MURRAY RIVER, LOWER LAKES

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON (15:42): I want to speak about the Coorong and the Murray Lakes system, in particular of the effect of the current drought on those systems. Much has been said about proposals to remediate the situation in Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert. The Premier, in January this year, made an announcement that letting seawater into the Lower Lakes would be an absolute last resort measure and that it was something that the state government does not want to do. The Premier said:

We will be looking to delay any such decision for as long as possible to allow maximum potential for good winter and spring rains in 2009.

The Premier went on to say, as he often does, that the government would leave no stone unturned in investigating all possible solutions, etc. The difficulty with the Premier's statement is that, once again, the government is really relying upon hoping, as we all are, for additional rains in the forthcoming season. However, the problems with the Lower Lakes are far greater than any remediation to be effected by rain events. The lakes have been deteriorating for many years, as a result of decreased freshwater flows and increasing allocation of water for irrigation purposes upstream.

The Lower River Murray Drought Reference Group has been meeting recently to discuss some of the issues in relation to the lakes, including the problems with acid sulphate soils and suggested solutions and the solution of bio-remediation trials, etc., and the scientists are discussing these issues.

Notwithstanding the good work that body, whose chair is the former premier Dean Brown, is undertaking in community consultations, the fact is that we need to have more lasting solutions to the problems with the lakes. Notwithstanding the fact that not many people want to see seawater ingress into the lakes system, it ought to be recognised, in my view, that not all the adjoining parts of the lakes are of high ecological value, that some most certainly do have high values and need to be protected at all costs, and that a flexible solution to these problems must be devised. I was delighted to receive from Quentin Lovell, a boat mechanic and amateur ecologist in Victor Harbor, a very thoughtful proposed solution for the Coorong and Murray Lakes system. His system does involve what is virtually a two-lakes solution, with part being fresh and part being salt. He is principally concerned to ensure that the high ecology values—

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): Order! The honourable member should not be using his telephone in the chamber. The honourable member needs to—

The Hon. R.P. Wortley: I wish you would be consistent. I've seen many—

The ACTING PRESIDENT: Order! The honourable member might like to use his telephone out of the chamber.

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: —are appropriately protected by levy banks and fresh water ingress. Mr Lovell clearly understands the fact that the system in the lakes is very much wind driven, and that it has been deteriorating for many years. I would be happy to provide interested members with a copy of this solution.

I do hope the reference group consults not only those who may have properties alongside the lakes but also more widely within the community, to ensure that we have a solution that not only meets current exigencies but also provides a long-term future for those parts of the system that require protection.