Purified recycled water
Murray-Darling Basin options
Open letter to Australians
Recently the Commonwealth Government announced it wanted to take a national approach to the management of the Murray Darling River system.
Federal recognition of the impact of climate change upon our nation’s environment is overdue but welcome. However the $10 billion plan put forward by the Commonwealth – while worthy of detailed consideration – does not go far enough.
Now is the time to explore larger, longer term schemes which offer the chance to give us water security not just for a decade but for generations to come.
That’s why I have asked the Commonwealth to work with Queensland to explore two options in the development and management of water resources in the eastern and southern States.
Drawing water from rivers in northern and western Queensland and northern NSW to recharge the Murray Darling system deserves investigation.
These schemes offer the potential of providing security to farmers across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia – and providing water resources for industrial expansion.
A small investment now to test the feasibility of these schemes has the potential to provide security for generations of Australians.
While the States continue to negotiate in good faith with the Prime Minister on his more immediate Murray Darling plan I would ask Australians to write to Mr Howard urging him to make a solid commitment to the consideration of these vital water options.
Peter Beattie MP
Premier of Queensland
Support for further investigation
Engineers Australia supports vision to solve water problems
"A visionary, nation-building idea worthy of consideration.
"We support an investigation into the viability of delivering such a scheme and support the Premier’s suggestion that the application of the Bradfield Scheme could provide a potential solution to some of our water woes.
"Australia is in a water crisis and at times of crisis big ideas are needed – the delivery of the Bradfield Scheme is a big idea which may be coming of age."
Brisbane Institute
"We are in the midst of a serious, long-term water crisis and the viability of all options, including the Premier’s proposal, should be reviewed in detail.
"The challenge we face with water security is unprecedented and potential solutions should not be dismissed without careful consideration.
"Many of the solutions currently being proposed were previously considered too unpopular or difficult to implement. Many of these are now being examined as viable options."
Queensland Farmers’ Federation
"As a valid response to climate change where rainfall is shifting from south to north, it may be a more valid response to shift the water south to where the people and established irrigation are rather than shift the agriculture north to where the water is.
"More information rather than less should be on the table as we grapple with the best solutions for dealing with climate change and the problems with the Murray Darling Basin in the long term."
Murray Darling river system options map (jpg - 39KB)
Last reviewed 21 February 2007
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