Crisis in the Murray River as Minister says there is no ‘Plan B’ after Murray-Darling Basin Plan

SOUTH Australia should prepare for the worst when it comes to the River Murray, top water expert David Paton says.

• Doubts raised over how water is flowing
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SOUTH Australia should prepare for the worst when it comes to the River Murray, a top water expert says.

The University of Adelaide’s Associate Professor David Paton says the state has to plan to keep dredging the Murray Mouth nine years out of 10. He says we also need to be ready in case water promised under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan never eventuates.

New state Water Minister David Speirs says there has been dredging in the Mouth “24/7” and that is not sustainable – but there is no “plan B”.

“We want this (Basin) Plan to work,” he said yesterday.

Allegations of water theft, rorting and meter tampering have sparked a series of inquiries into the $13 billion plan, which have prompted warnings that the plan isn’t working as intended. There is also parliamentary wrangling over changes to how water should be returned for the environment.

The coorong leading into the Murray Mouth at Goolwa. Picture: Simon Cross

Prof Paton says we’re “kidding ourselves” if we believe that a core target of the plan – to have to dredge only 5 per cent of the time – will be met.

“SA should be planning on managing the environment with less than is likely to be delivered under the plan,” he said.

SA’s wetlands and environment would bear the brunt of the plan’s failure, he warned, and the river mouth would close.

That could have devastating complications in a flood – the closed Mouth could act as a “choke point” or dam, overfilling the Coorong and wiping out vulnerable ecosystems.

Mr Speirs said we shouldn’t be looking at a “plan B”.

“The plan we’ve got is not perfect but it gives us a structure and something to aim for,” he said.

Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission dredges working around the year to keep the mouth open and the Coorong alive. Picture: Leon Mead Photography

Asked if the new Liberal Government would seek to change the Murray-Darling Royal Commission’s terms of reference, Mr Speirs said he was “trying to reposition it as a positive instrument”.

Federal Water Minister David Littleproud said compliance was crucial.

“We have recovered more than 2100GL for the environment – that water is delivering results across the basin,” he said.

“In the last 12 months that water has supported a healthier river system across the basin, including the Hattah Lakes, Lower Darling, Gwydir and across to the SA Murray.”