The Only Water in Murray River

During the Tinderbox Drought, the only water flowing down to the end of the River Murray in South Australia was environmental water.

Yet even the Tinderbox Drought wasn’t the worst the South has seen. That record still belongs to the Millennium Drought.

So what happens when the next severe drought approaches Millennium-scale – or worse?
The insurance policy for the next severe drought will be – you guessed correctly – environmental water.
This is what will keep the river flowing and help to maintain water quality throughout the system.
In this sense, environmental water is also socio-economic water.

Why? Because communities – farmers, Traditional Owners, fishers, everyone – depend on clean water for their livelihoods, for culture, and to survive.

Right now, we are in the middle of a critical reform period in the Murray-Darling Basin. Both the Basin Plan and Water Act are under review.

In reality, there is still not enough environmental water in the bank to mitigate against the worst impacts of the next severe drought in South Australia – one that could rival, or exceed, the Millennium Drought.

As Commissioner for the River Murray – South Australia, I will continue to advocate for full implementation of the Basin Plan which, amongst other things, requires the allocation of additional water to the environment.

South Australia is at the end of a large transboundary river system and while it remains vulnerable to upstream politics and priorities, its river, its floodplains, its communities and its economy deserve the security that comes with a fully funded, fully implemented Basin Plan.

The next severe drought is not a question of if, but when. Finishing the job now – rather than winding back ambition – is how we make sure South Australia, its environment and its communities aren’t left underinsured through the next dry stretch.