Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton has called for South Australia’s Lower Lakes to be opened up to sea water immediately following a six-day fact finding trip of the Lower Lakes and surrounding area.
Ms Dalton met with experts, historians, South Australian farmers, and indigenous representatives to discuss the Lower Lakes which are currently being kept full of fresh water that is taken from the Murray-Darling River system.
Sea water from the Murray mouth is kept out of the lakes using seven giant barrages which were built in the 1930s and 40s.
“What I saw was absolute madness and no-one could tell me why Lake Alexandrina and the rest of the Lower Lakes should be kept as artificial freshwater lakes, especially when water from Victoria and New South Wales is used to keep the lakes full,” Mrs Dalton said.
“Before humans got involved, 80 years ago, the Lower Lakes were a mixture of fresh water from the rivers and salt water from the sea.
“We never should have put up the barrages to artificially keep the sea water out.”
Mrs Dalton has called on NSW Premier Chris Minns to disallow water bought from NSW farmers from being used to fill South Australia’s Lower Lakes.
“You couldn’t design a less logical system,” Ms Dalton said.
“That water should be used for farming so we can feed the 27 million Australians who now live here, as well as the people overseas who want Australian food.
“Instead, we are sending that precious water down to the Lower Lakes so well-connected South Australians in Goolwa and on Hindmarsh Island can tie their boats to private jetties outside their luxury holiday homes. This must stop.”
Mrs Dalton has also called on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to explain why the barrages are still being used, given the environmental damage they are causing.
“I went to South Australia expecting to find someone, anyone, who could explain why sea water is still being kept out of the Lower Lakes, and not a single person could give me a straight answer.
“So, if the MDBA is in charge, maybe they can explain why so much valuable fresh water is being wasted.
“These lakes had been connected to the sea for tens of thousands of years before humans came along and messed things up. It’s time for us to put things right again.
“We need to return these lakes back to their natural state.”