Introduction
Here in the driest continent on earth, water remains our most precious resource. Not just for the economy, but also to sustain life, including our own.
For millions of years, Queensland’s rivers ran free and wild. Throughout time, channels were cut and sediments were laid. Plant and animal life prospered around the rivers and streams, life sustaining water drawing everything toward it.
We are fortunate to retain many life-giving rivers and streams, particularly in the north and west of the state. Tragically, most of the mighty monsoonal rivers of the east coast have been dammed and the rich variety of life based upon these rivers has been lost. The Brisbane River remains an ecological basket case, despite heroic community efforts to repair past misuse.
Enormous monsoonal rivers still define the wild country of the Gulf and Cape York. The last wild river in the Murray Darling Basin, the Paroo, begins it journey in Central Queensland.
Wild Rivers are a precious resource and should not be lost through an obsession with dam building. Mighty wild and natural rivers should not be dammed. The building of dams dramatically degrades the river and can led to nutrient overloads and chemical imbalances, the introduction of exotic plant and fish species, salinity and blue green algae outbreaks.
It is imperative that wild and natural rivers in Queensland are identified and protected.
No dams for wild and natural rivers!
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Wild and Natural Rivers: the issues
Government scientists are currently working on an ‘issues paper’ to identify ways to identify and protect wild and natural rivers.
The Wilderness Society believes that it is important that this paper, when completed, should be subject to peer review by experts in the field.
The Wilderness Society sees the need for an independent advisory body to examine the ‘issues paper’ and make due changes. An effective way to implement a successful strategy would see the involvement of key scientists that have been involved in similar policy compilations and are involved with river management. We have been in contact with experts that would be suitable to form an expert panel that can have outside involvement that is essential when the named departments above have vested interests in the outcomes of the policy.
The role of the Technical Advisory Panel will be to advise the Minister on a program to finalise appropriate methodology for identification and protection of wild and natural rivers, recommended rivers for permanent protection and recommend methods for restoration and protection of degraded river values.
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Political Commitment TWS is Seeking on Wild Rivers:
Natural Rivers Policy – funding for the Technical Advisory Panel Workshop.
Long-term Costs for TAP.
Funding for a Natural Rivers department within the EPA.
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Paroo River: the issues
The Paroo River is the last free flowing river left in the Murray Darling Basin. The wetlands and lakes of the Paroo floodplain are critical for maintaining biological diversity.
Through the Water Resource Plan for the Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine, ‘no allocations’ should be declared in the Paroo catchment to signify its national importance.
Queensland has a commitment to ecological sustainability through the Water Act 2000 and the Cross-Boarders Commission should be used as a levee to work with the NSW government. Queensland has an opportunity to pull the Paroo outside of the Water Resource Plan and become part of the process for the Murray Darling Basin Restoration.
The Paroo should be seen as a pilot river to instigate the Natural Rivers Policy. It should become a Protected area with a variety of tenures. Funding will be sought to prepare a conservation policy for the Paroo catchment.
A study should be funded to research the conservation value of all properties within the Paroo catchment.
Land-holder management and generation of return to land-holders should be established. Funding should be made available to the land-holders to partake in sustainable management, under guidelines from the Natural Rivers Policy eg. fencing of riparian areas and cut back on grazing.
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Political Commitment TWS is seeking to protect the Paroo River
Opportunity Costs lost with the 100 Mgs reneged.
Funding for study of the Paroo catchment for conservation values.
Acquisition of Land with high conservation value.
Land-holder management resources, workshops etc.
For more information, please contact:
Larissa Cordner
Wild Rivers Campaigner
Email Larissa Cordner
Created: 03 May 2001 | Last updated: 03 May 2001