Critical to our survival...

Thousands of kilometres of structures have been built over more than several decades for irrigation development in the MDBP, the capture large volumes of floodplain flows free of charge for irrigation and other purposes.

Floodplain Harvesting

A disaster for the rivers & wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin...

Video by - Nature Conservation Council of NSW

Without floodplain harvesting, much of this water would have nourished floodplain and wetland habitats, contributed to clean water for downstream communities and ecosystems, or soaked into the ground to recharge aquifers.

Floodplains help the river system breath water spreading periodically across vast shallow floodplains is vitally important for river health. This process naturally purifies water, enriches soil health, most of the water flowing across floodplains sustains floodplain eucalypt and then infiltrating into shallow groundwater aquifers contributing to regional town water storage, or flows back into rivers, contributing to wildlife health and water security in downstream river valleys.

Floodplains underpin the health of migratory birds, other water birds, native fish, frogs and many flood dependent aquatic plants, red gums etc.

High priority water for environmental and community needs must be protected. There has to be much better overseeing and constant monitoring of existing floodplain structures or these structures will continue to intercept floodplain flows even when extraction is not permitted.

We must implement flow triggers to protect priority flows from being extracted on floodplains, ensure existing floodplain structures do not alter natural flood flows and issue only temporary licences until there is clear evidence that extractions are within limits and that legally mandated environmental and other downstream outcomes are being achieved.

Overall, it is my contention that we must not ever destroy the pathways of our floodplains. These have existed since the dawn of time and are so important to the functionality of all that rely, from habitats, all types of wildlife, our flora, our communities, our farming at less intense levels are all hugely reliant on floodplains doing what they do best, and that is to give future life to us all and generations to come.