PROPOSAL to increase groundwater extraction by 54 per cent from the Murray Darling Basin has come under heavy fire from scientists and politicians from all sides of Parliament.
The Wentworth Group of Scientists released a report last week saying the MDB Authority's proposal to extract an extra 2600 gigalitres of groundwater than it originally proposed in 2010 showed a lack of regard for science.
"Important issues have been neglected and indefensible assumptions have been made in the analysis of groundwater sustainability to the extent that the public, and ultimately Parliament, are being misled about the sustainability of groundwater use in the basin," the report said.
The scientists claim about half the earmarked 2600gL is generally good quality water that comes from fractured rock aquifers in the eastern highlands, which, along with large alluvial aquifers, provide baseflow for nearly all the creeks and rivers in the eastern and central parts of the MDB.
"Water users who rely on extractions from the basin's rivers will see their water asset eroded as the upstream groundwater users extract the water first.
Read More
Stock Journal
No comments:
Post a Comment