Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Lurching from one water crisis to the next

By Everald Compton - posted Tuesday, 21 February 2006


Once the Nathan Dam is built, it will encourage new industries to open around the mines in the Surat Basin. They cannot even be considered at present because there is not enough water, consequently some excellent projects remain dormant. To ignore this need is irresponsible.
 
Further north, a diversion into the southerly diversion of the Mitchell River, which currently carries trillions of gallons of water yearly out into the Gulf of Carpentaria, would enable the rich black soil land from Hughenden to Longreach to become the “salad bowl” for Asia, but, disgracefully, no one except political maverick, Bob Katter, gives it a moment’s thought.
Advertisement
 
Further south, a diversion of the Clarence River near Grafton would open up the Western Plains of New South Wales for great development. Dr Bradfield, builder of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, planned this project 70 years ago, but successive governments have allowed his vision to gather cobwebs because the Grafton region is a marginal seat in both the Federal and State Parliaments and neither side of politics is willing to take the political risk.
 
It is going to take a brave and powerful politician to tackle all the great issues of our use and reuse of water, but the hour glass is running low. The time to find and empower such a leader is right now.
 
It is not over dramatic to say that failure to do so will place all Australians in immediate peril.
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All

Article edited by Chris Smith.
If you'd like to be a volunteer editor too, click here.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

23 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Everald Compton is Chairman of The Longevity Forum, a not for profit entity which is implementing The Blueprint for an Ageing Australia. He was a Founding Director of National Seniors Australia and served as its Chairman for 25 years. Subsequently , he was Chairman for three years of the Federal Government's Advisory Panel on Positive Ageing.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Everald Compton

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Everald Compton
Article Tools
Comment 23 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy