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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-28 Daily Xml
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WATER ACTION COALITION

The Hon. M. PARNELL (17:47): I move:

That this council—

1. Notes the formation in South Australia of a Water Action Coalition of community groups and individuals calling for ecologically sustainable water management in this state;

2. Notes the proclamation issued by the Water Action Coalition in a rally on the steps of this parliament on 10 October 2009; and

3. Agrees with the request made in the proclamation for an urgent public inquiry into water management in South Australia and calls on the government to implement this inquiry without delay.

On 10 October 2009, concerned South Australians from Adelaide and from regional communities staged a peaceful protest on the steps of Parliament House, under the banner 'Our Water, Our Rights'. This rally brought together a large group of people from all areas of our state who had in common one particular concern, and that is that the water resources, be they fresh or marine, in this state are not being managed adequately and that something needs to be done. I will read shortly to the chamber the proclamation that was passed by that rally but, first of all, I will put on the record the groups and individuals who are supporting the Water Action Coalition.

All members would be aware of Professor Diane Bell and her tireless work campaigning for the Lower Lakes and the Coorong. Members would also be aware of Mr Trevor White of the Cheltenham Park Residents Association, which has been campaigning for the use of the old Cheltenham Racecourse as a stormwater flood control and open space area, rather than the current proposal to cover it with houses.

There was an incredible line-up of probably 20 or so people who spoke during the course of an hour or so. They included Marcus Beresford from Brownhill Creek Association; Julie Pettett, the Chief Executive of the Conservation Council of South Australia; Janet Giles, representing SA Unions; Mr David Noonan from the Australian Conservation Foundation; and Pat Harbison from the Friends of Gulf St Vincent. Mr Harbison is a scientist who has done more than many others in drawing attention to the impact of stormwater and effluent on our seagrasses.

The rally also heard from Ngarrindjeri Elder Mr Tom Trevorrow, whose country is very much at the end of the failing Murray-Darling system. The rally heard from Hallett Shueard, who is an author and poet; and Corrie Vanderhoek from the Save Our Gulf Coalition. Two people from Whyalla spoke—in fact, a busload of people came from Whyalla to be part of the rally. There was also Greg Curnow from the Cuttlefish Coast Coalition and Andrew Melville-Smith from the group Save Point Lowly. We heard also from Peter Burdon from Friends of the Earth; he is a young lawyer who has done a lot of work on the impact of mining industries on groundwater in this state. Also at the rally was John Schumann, who is a singer, songwriter and environmental activist and someone who is known to most members in this place. Mr John Caldecott from the Water Action Coalition was one of the organisers, along with Jim Douglas, who was the rally's convenor.

Members of parliament were there in good numbers as well. As well as myself, there was the Hon. David Winderlich; Mr Mitch Williams, representing the Liberal Party; the Hon. Rob Brokenshire; and Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. If that is not enough, a number of other distinguished experts on water added their names to an open letter to the Premier. They included: Ms Maude Barlow, a United Nations adviser on water; Mr Colin Pitman, whose name is known to everyone as the champion of the Salisbury wetlands and of aquifer storage and recovery; Dr Scoresby Shepherd AO, again, a long-time campaigner with a solid scientific background; and Professor Fran Baum of Flinders University. So there is a large group of people who are happy to lend their names, voices and support to the Water Action Coalition.

The proclamation that was passed at that meeting, and which I was very happy to be invited to read to this council, is as follows:

This rally of concerned South Australians rejects the State Government’s Water Security Plan. Our river systems and iconic wetlands are collapsing. Interdependent ecosystems are dying and our fragile gulfs are being destroyed.

This Water Action Coalition rally rejects the need for desalination, diversions, dams and weirs in the Lower Lakes. This rally demands sustainable solutions from its legislators. Our waters, both freshwater and marine, must be conserved and protected by laws.

We demand comprehensive stormwater and waste water recycling. We demand that the River Murray and its rivers and creeks flow freely again to the Lower Lakes and to the sea. The Coorong must be reconnected to its freshwater sources in the South East.

Our plea to parliament is to think again. Our right and that of generations to come is for a sustainable water future not only for ourselves but for our environment. WAC calls on the legislators in this parliament to conduct a public enquiry, with the authority of a Royal Commission, to address the urgent social, environmental and economic disaster that has been brought about by mismanagement and hasty interventions.

A sustainable water future without compromising our environment is the only acceptable outcome.

In relation to that call for a public inquiry, members might note that we have a select committee of this council looking into SA Water; however, clearly the problem of water management is far greater than just that relating to our main water utility. So I think this is a valid and legitimate call; a public inquiry with the authority of a royal commission is what we need.

To conclude, the Water Action Coalition movement is a demonstration of deep concern across the community. The coalition has urged the government to abandon the damaging strategies that have been implemented to date, and urges this parliament to take action for this and future generations. The Water Action Coalition concludes its open letter to the Premier with the following statement:

A sustainable water future without compromising our environment is the only acceptable outcome.

I commend the motion to the council.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.

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