Macquarie Marshes ‘off the wagon’. 1st drink in 7 years – but still not enough! - 18 January 2008

The internationally significant Macquarie Marshes has received some water from the first soaking rains in seven years and from an environmental flow release from Burrendong dam.

Water released from Burrendong dam on the Macquarie River after consultation with the local community stakeholder group, will be reaching the wetlands now.

“It’s fantastic that these Ramsar listed wetlands are getting a bit of a drink, but even with all of the rain that has fallen recently plus the allocation of some environmental flow, there is only enough water to keep approximately 10% of the Marshes going,” said Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen.

“What the rains and the meagre environmental flows into the Macquarie Marshes highlight is the ongoing problem of environmental flow allocations in water sharing plans.

“Phil Koperberg had committed to an increase in aerial surveillance and spot checks to ensure that environmental flows reached their intended destinations in NSW.

“This is critical given that the allocation for the Marshes is already very low and cannot withstand theft from other users.

“Although the rains are providing a temporary reprieve, the underlying water sharing problems have not gone away. The Government is still allowing industry to extract water from tributary flows from below the dam.

“Macquarie Marshes were the best breeding grounds in Australia for many colonial nesting water birds, such as the Straw-necked Ibis. There has not been a successful breeding event in the Marshes for over 7 years.

“Every drop of water counts in these harsh conditions bought on by climate change.

“Still the NSW Government is favouring the highly wasteful flood irrigation industry above the health of internationally significant wetlands,” said Mr Cohen.