Flooding plan to save Murray red gums

Eric Frei · 16th June 2007, 10:45 PM

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...2-2702,00.html

Quote:

Flooding plan to save Murray red gums

* John Stapleton
* June 16, 2007

THOUSANDS of magnificent river red gums, many pre-dating European settlement, have withered and died from lack of water in forests straddling the River Murray.

The problem is clearly evident in the Gunbower and Perricoota state forests, which together cover 50,000ha and stretch for 70km along the border of Victoria and NSW.

The root systems of the trees require regular drenching for the red gums to survive but it has been 14 years since the last substantial flooding in the region.

Yet hope of a revival has emerged with the $4million purchase of a 1480ha property known as Toorangabby, 50km downstream from Echuca.

The move by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, in conjunction with the NSW Government, under a scheme known as The Living Murray, is being heralded as a major step forward in improving the health of wetlands and red gum forests.

Commission head Wendy Craik said the purchase would enable the flooding of the forests in a way likely to keep them alive without causing problems for private landholders.

"The property is right in the middle of the Perricoota system, with a state forest on one side and the river on the other," Ms Craik said. "We are proposing to construct a channel and put in a number of weirs in a flood-enhancement project which will reconnect the flood plain to the river system."

The forests have the look of a dead world about them. Huge blocks of "driftwood" lie scattered among the giant gums, left there from the last deluge. But the fine, pale silver-grey silt, washed down over the ages from the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range, has seen little water for many years.

Once a breeding ground for migratory birds, the great rookeries where thousands of ibises, herons, stilts, brolgas, wading birds and bitterns raised their young, are now empty.

"It is flooding that created this forest, flooding that sustains it and flooding that keeps it healthy," said Linda Broekman, icon site manager for The Living Murray scheme.

"The river needs flows of more than 17,000 megalitres a day just to begin flooding into the forests.

"That is why we need to help it. Buying Toorangabby has been the key to saving this magnificent place."

Lindsay Jones, 54, a field worker in the red gum forests for the past 25 years, said that when he first started work, he would often have to do his job by boat for months at a time.

"This is not another job for me, I just love being here," he said. "It is such a beautiful place. It is in my heart. To see it going the way it is hurts."

dguntertrees · 14th September 2007, 10:44 AM

Gee,
Some good news re: trees? Whatever next...A ban on old growth logging in Tazzy? Tighter regulations on "arborists" and "loppers"?..A tree police?

Eric Frei · 14th September 2007, 03:04 PM

Logging Tassie, the Labour Party jumped into bed with them after Latham's turndown, letting them log more of Tassie than Howard will win them seats!

I wonder how that company buys "carbon credits"?

dguntertrees · 14th September 2007, 07:09 PM

Didn't you know? Australia doesn't ned to be "in" a Carbon Trading Scheme of any kind, because climate change is a myth, and our good friends in the US gov't agree. This convenient union has set back action on global warming throughout THE WHOLE WORLD by 12 years, quite an achievement for little Johnny and his wealthy,big business mates.
The US (Highest CO2 emitters en masse) and Australia (Highest CO2 emitters pr head of population in the world) should hang their heads in shame. Australia especially had a HUGE opportunity to become THE world leaders in renewable energy technology, instead the brain drain has taken all the bright young things to China, India and (ironically) the US....Go figure.

Eric Frei · 15th September 2007, 04:23 AM

Remember the famous Midnight Oil song?

well, seems Garrett sold out to Tassie Logging.

The Australian, News from Australia's National Newspaper

Do you remember the song Blue Sky Mining?

Funny how quickly one forgets their life purpose for a buck and political existance.

Eric Frei · 5th October 2007, 09:05 PM

Garrett 'spineless' on mill - National - theage.com.au

Quote:

Garrett 'spineless' on mill

October 5, 2007 - 9:49AM

Labor's environmental spokesman Peter Garrett is "spineless" and has "sold out" over the Tamar Valley pulp mill, says Australian Greens leader Bob Brown .

Asked about Mr Garrett's announcement yesterday that Labor would support the Gunns pulp mill in northern Tasmania, Senator Brown told Southern Cross Broadcasting today, "It's spineless."

Recalling Mr Garrett's former role as president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, Senator Brown said, "I can't believe that the Peter I knew - I've been into the forests with him, into the forests of Tasmania when he was campaigning to help save them 10, 20 years ago - could now be giving a tick of approval to such a disastrous environmental factory."

Asked if Mr Garrett had sold out, he said, "Yes, on this issue Peter has sold out. There's no other way around it. I mean, Peter should have stood up yesterday and said, 'I will not go along with this pulp mill because of the environment, as well as the employment and the economic damage it will do to Tasmania'."

Senator Brown said it hurt him to be talking like this about the former environmental activist.

"I've got a lot of regard for the guy and I can only imagine that in his soul he must be hurting himself.

"We talked about this. I said, 'don't do it, don't go into a big party, they'll eat you up and spit you out.' But he's there, he's been now put under this challenge and he's failed."

Meanwhile, the Australian Greens candidate for Wentworth, Susan Jarnason, says approval of the Tasmanian pulp mill could double her party's vote in the Sydney electorate.

Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday approved the controversial $2 billion mill for the Tamar Valley in Tasmania's north-east, providing it meets 48 environmental conditions.

Ms Jarnason, who is running against Mr Turnbull in the Sydney seat of Wentworth, said she has received many angry complaints from constituents about the decision.

She said the Government's approval of the Gunns Ltd mill could substantially increase the Greens' vote in the electorate.

"Prior to this (approval) we were hoping for a solid increase (in votes)," Ms Jarnason told ABC radio.

"I'm not the numbers person but I would like to think we might double our vote, that would be great if we could."

If it doubled the Greens would received around 20 per cent of the vote in Wentworth, which would make their preference deal with Labor significant.

Ms Jarnason said despite Labor's support for the mill the Greens will maintain its preference deal with the party.

"Would you have us give our preferences to Liberal?" She said.

"We don't think that Labor policies on this issue and some others are particularly better but we really want to get rid of the Howard government.

"We have heard from our electorate that that's very important.

14th September 2007, 10:44 AM	#2
dguntertrees Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mudgeeraba, SE Queensland Posts: 80	Re: Flooding plan to save Murray red gums Gee, Some good news re: trees? Whatever next...A ban on old growth logging in Tazzy? Tighter regulations on "arborists" and "loppers"?..A tree police?

14th September 2007, 03:04 PM	#3
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Flooding plan to save Murray red gums Logging Tassie, the Labour Party jumped into bed with them after Latham's turndown, letting them log more of Tassie than Howard will win them seats! I wonder how that company buys "carbon credits"? __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

14th September 2007, 07:09 PM	#4
dguntertrees Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mudgeeraba, SE Queensland Posts: 80	Re: Flooding plan to save Murray red gums Didn't you know? Australia doesn't ned to be "in" a Carbon Trading Scheme of any kind, because climate change is a myth, and our good friends in the US gov't agree. This convenient union has set back action on global warming throughout THE WHOLE WORLD by 12 years, quite an achievement for little Johnny and his wealthy,big business mates. The US (Highest CO2 emitters en masse) and Australia (Highest CO2 emitters pr head of population in the world) should hang their heads in shame. Australia especially had a HUGE opportunity to become THE world leaders in renewable energy technology, instead the brain drain has taken all the bright young things to China, India and (ironically) the US....Go figure.

15th September 2007, 04:23 AM	#5
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	How can we sleep when our beds are burning Remember the famous Midnight Oil song? well, seems Garrett sold out to Tassie Logging. The Australian, News from Australia's National Newspaper Do you remember the song Blue Sky Mining? Funny how quickly one forgets their life purpose for a buck and political existance. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

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