NSW embarrassed back into National Water Initiative - 8 March 2005

The Carr Government has been embarrassed into re-signing the National Water Initiative, following a series of bureaucratic stuff ups and serious incidents of mismanagement of NSW rivers in recent months, Greens MLC Ian Cohen said today.


“Craig Knowles has had to admit his brave new world of water sharing plans for the state’s rivers has so far been a failure and he now realises he needs the money the Federal Government is offering to save himself.”


The National Competition Council suspended $26 million of NSW competition payments this year because the Carr Government has failed to show how water sharing plans return enough water to the rivers. NSW is the only state that has had its payments docked.


Mr Cohen said the decision to re-sign to the National Water Initiative is an admission the state’s river systems are in crisis.


Dry cracked earthMore than 8000 Ibis chicks died last month in the internationally recognised Gwydir Wetlands after the Department of Natural Resources (DIPNR) failed to release enough water into the river system.


“The Gwydir and Gingham Wetlands are dying because the NSW Government continues to deny them the water they need to survive.


“The same story is being repeated in the Macquarie Marshes, near Warren, where landholders have had to stand by and watch vital bird breeding areas wither and die because of a lack of water.


“Instead of recognising the problem and using new water sharing plans to increase environmental flows and keep rivers healthy, the Carr Government chose a path of action that has pushed the state’s rivers to the point of destruction.”



Further Information: Paul Sheridan, 0410 516 656