How can we fix the Murray Darling Basin?

Our 10 point plan to fix the Murray Darling Basin

1. Simplify the laws.
2. Stop water recovery in the Southern Basin.
3. Stop water buybacks.
4. No water recovery after 2024.
5. Build Lock Zero.
6. Scrap the 450GL Upwater.
7. No flooding of private property.
8. Clean up the Northern Basin.

Why is conserving the Murray River important?

It harbours some of our most important natural assets, supporting a diverse array of animals, plants and ecosystems of national and international significance. This includes 35 endangered birds and 16 endangered mammals. However, the Murray-Darling is also one of the most vulnerable river basins on Earth.

How does the Murray River help the environment?

fish breed and move through the rivers triggered by ebbs and flows. birds cross the landscape pollinating plants and eating insects. aquatic plants filter water and keep it clean. vegetation helps to control erosion.

Why is the Murray-Darling Basin dying?

Hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of fish died due to a combination of drought, algal blooms and a sudden temperature drop. Between October 2019 and May 2020 over 65 fish death events were reported by Basin state governments.

How important is the Murray River?

More than 3 million Australians rely on the Murray-Darling Basin rivers for drinking water, including Canberra and Adelaide. Home to more than 40 Aboriginal Nations with deep cultural, social, environmental, spiritual and economic connection to their lands and waters.

What is wrong with the Murray Darling river?

Many issues affect the water resources and ecosystems of the MDB including salinity, erosion, blue-green algal blooms, water quality, and invasive species. Climate change and resultant possible increases in drought pose a significant risk to the availability of surface water in the MDB.

Why is the Murray river so dirty?

Water is also being over-extracted from the river, which is used for hydroelectric power and for irrigation. The River Murray does get polluted by other things. Stormwater collects pollutants and washes them into the river.

Whats killing the fish?

Fish can die from a number of causes such as inadequate dissolved oxygen in the water, petroleum, algae bloom, manure runoff or chemical spill, a sudden change in water temperature, infectious diseases or parasites, septic system discharge, an aquatic pesticide application, or excessive silt or mud runoff.

What animals live in the Murray River?

Wildlife of the Murray–Darling Basin

• eastern quolls (luaners)
• eastern grey kangaroos.
• red kangaroos.
• platypus.
• sugar gliders.
• brush tailed rock wallabies.
• koalas.
• common ringtail possums.

Is the Murray river safe to swim in?

The Environment Department is reminding people the River Murray can be deceptively dangerous to swim in, with a range of hazards below the water. The warning comes after police yesterday recovered the body of a man who went missing in the River Murray, near Paringa, on Monday.

Why is it important to save the Murray River?

Save the Murray. The Murray River is the lifeblood of our country – it supports our people, wildlife and economy – and it’s in serious trouble. The stream of scandals surrounding the Murray-Darling Basin seems never ending.

How can we save the Murray Darling basin?

Protect River Flows Prevent redirection of environmental water to other uses, including for private purposes during dry times. Resume open tender buybacks to enable cost effective water recovery and meet Basin Plan environmental targets. Protect low flows and maintain connectivity within and between the rivers of the northern Basin.

When did the save the River Murray Levy end?

The Save the River Murray Levy was abolished on 1 July 2015, providing most households and businesses with an annual saving of more than $40 and $182 respectively. The decision was in recognition that the original purpose of the Fund, to allow South Australia to lead the campaign to Save the River Murray, has been achieved.

Are there any industrial discharges from the Murray River?

There are now only a few towns which still rely on river discharge for the disposal of treated sewage effluent. Along the whole length of the Murray River there is only one large industrial discharge to the river; that from the newsprint mill at Albury. There is no grounds for complacency.