The Darling River - Used and Abused?

Submitted: Thursday, Apr 30, 2015 at 10:40
ThreadID: 117675 Views:4054 Replies:10 FollowUps:17
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Many in the EO community will be familiar with the Darling River region and have possibly toured down the mighty Darling from Bourke to Menindee.

For those that are not aware I want to share the news that a lack of rains in the catchment areas for the Darling River has significantly impacted the water level and flow of the river in recent times. However, I can’t help but feel the creation of weirs and the diversion of water to irrigate agricultural crops, especially cotton, has sapped this might river over a long-period of time.

Mind you this is not a new revelation, but the saying, we reap what we sow comes to mind!

Recently I wrote about the Darling River – A National Treasure in a blog I posted on EO. Perhaps I should have included a by-line in the title (And stop cotton farming upstream).

You can read it here.

I understand the water has now all but stopped flowing at Wilcannia and the residents of Pooncarie in the lower Darling River region will resort to emergency water supplies, which ultimately means trucking water in, within the next few days.

Menindee Lakes has a very low level and this will also impact water supplies to Broken Hill in due course. Apparently the NSW water authority will shut off any flow in this area to ensure a water supply to Broken Hill.

Whilst not putting myself forward nor pigeon holing myself as a greenie, I do pose the question, why do we destroy natural gifts like the Darling River to irrigate crops that should never be grown on the world’s driest continent?

And I get it, a lack of rain is the major problem, but have we made it worse through placing weirs and cotton farms further upstream!

The Menindee Lakes region is a beautiful part of Australia as many will attest, however it is likely a lack of water will have a significant impact on tourism in the Menindee Lakes region this year. Numbers are already down, perhaps understandably so.

Sometimes I ask the question what we can do collectively, other than prayer for rain, if you are inclined.

Maybe the answer simply lies in that we have an awareness of the issue, and if motivated to do so, speak out!

Baz – The Landy
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