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Scrap the Proposals — Daly River – Under Threat
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The Daly River is an Australian icon worth saving.
Its headwaters lie in the World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park and the spectacular Katherine Gorge. For over 500km’s the Daly and its tributaries flow through a network of intact wetlands, billabongs and floodplains – to its mouth in the Timor Sea.
The Daly River catchment is covered in vast stands of forests and woodlands, still rich in native wildlife. The Daly maintains strong river flows during the long dry season – giving it a number of special qualities not found in any other Top End rivers.
The Daly River is one of Australia’s premier Barramundi fishing destinations. Each year tens of thousands of interstate and international tourists visit the Daly River – providing economic growth to the region.
Unfortunately, the Daly River region has been targeted for large-scale irrigation schemes. If the proposals go ahead the vast forests and woodlands will be cleared and billions more litres of water will be pumped from the Daly River every year.
Photo by Alec Marr
If large-scale irrigated agriculture and large-scale treeclearing go ahead the Daly River will end up devastated like the Murray River in southeastern Australia. Water levels in the river will drop, soil erosion will silt up the river channel and the Daly’s abundant native wildlife will be lost.
The Daly is home to the Traditional Owners and a number of Aboriginal communities who have a strong connection to the river. Mr John Daly, a Traditional Owner from the Daly River and the Deputy Chairman of the Northern Land Council has stated: “We don’t want another Murray. They are not looking at the environment and our culture – they are only thinking of the dollar value.” (The Age September 15 2003) (More Information)
The Daly is recognised Australia wide as a high quality recreational fishing river. Barramundi, the prized sportfish are abundant in the Daly and each year two national fishing tournaments are held on the river. Mr John Harrison, the Executive Officer of the Amateur Fishermen’s Association of the Northern Territory has affirmed that the Daly River; “… is a jewel in the Northern Territory crown and we need to protect and cherish its qualities.” (More Information)
Photo by Alex Julius
Scrap the Proposals Daly River – Under Threat
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