Act For the Murray-Darling Basin

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We all depend on the country’s lifeblood – the Murray-Darling. It’s our shared interest to protect it. We need to return enough water to the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin so it is not poisoned by salt, it flows and is alive.

But the draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan, recently released for public review, will not provide enough water for a healthy river. It fails the river, regional communities and our national interest.

We’re facing an aggressive campaign from some vested interests who put their profits ahead of the national interest. For too long we’ve been told there’s a conflict between a healthy river and farming.

But this is simply not true. The best protection for farming families is keeping the rivers – our lifeblood – flowing. Near the Murray mouth in South Australia, communities and businesses have collapsed due to salinity and lack of water flows. We cannot operate in conflict with our rivers anymore.

We already know that there is public support for a strong Basin Plan, but together, we need to demonstrate it now. If enough of us write to our MPs, then we’ll give them the courage to demand a good plan. Others will back up your emails with submissions and phone calls and action on the ground.

Today, while the rivers are all over the news, it’s the right time to email your MP. Tell them you want the Basin Plan to keep our Murray-Darling healthy.

http://acf.good.do/help-murray-darling

Your voice can play a crucial role during the next five months of the public review period. The draft plan will then be finalised and legislation introduced into Federal Parliament in 2012.

Dr Paul Sinclair
Healthy Ecosystems Program Manager
Australian Conservation Foundation