The headlines today read: “Senate Inquiry finds Coorong can be saved” and “Not enough water to save Lakes”. Confused? The majority report reflected the government position that the fresh water needed to prevent acidification of the Lower Lakes was not available. This position was challenged by the minority report of Australian Greens Senators Rachel Siewert (WA) and Sarah Hanson-Young (SA) and Independent Senator Nick Xenophon (SA).
With respect to allowing opening the barrages, the majority report, endorsed by the Labor Senators stated: “If the admission of sea water becomes necessary, the potential environmental impacts should be subject to further detailed investigation and community consultation.”
The Minority Report ruled out flooding the lower lakes with salt water and called for emergency action to allow the system to survive: “The Commonwealth Government to acquire 60 gigalitres of fresh water by next spring within the southern connected system to maintain the water level of the lower lakes above the critical acidification point.”
The underlying causes of the crisis were variously named as over-allocation, climate change, drought, mismanagement and lack of political will to act. Both the majority and minority reports acknowledged that there were significant knowledge gaps and that more research and consultation were needed. (Full Report)
