Mr Watson’s statement that ‘up-water’ was created by constraints strategy and would have dire flooding consequences for those on the Goulburn and Murray rivers is not true on both counts.
The Barmah Choke and the low-gradient Goulburn River are correctly described as natural constraints; both essential to deliver environmental water to these water-deprived floodplains.
The Barmah National Park and the lower Goulburn are currently being damaged by increased water deliveries during summer months to large downstream irrigation developments, not by the delivery of environmental water.
Constraints strategy did not ‘create’ up-water; the strategy simply enables maximising the benefits to the river environment by achieving environmental flows up to minor flood levels.
This strategy is currently being obstructed by privileged landholders on the upper Goulburn and the failure of the Victorian Government to meet its obligations under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Also overlooked are the benefits of this up-water to all rivers, wetlands and floodplains as it flows through the southern basin system. All benefit from these flows, not only South Australia
I realise an election is imminent, and Mr Watson is obviously promoting his preferred candidate, but this should not lead to misrepresentations of the facts and cause further confusion in our communities.
John Pettigrew
Chair, Goulburn Valley Environment Group
9°C