South Australia’s water problem

It should also build a weir across the Murray near Wellington so that in dry years seawater cannot move too far up and contaminate either Adelaide’s supply or that of SA irrigators. It should also redirect all SE drainage water into the Coorong.

Were this to occur it would be possible to reduce the amount of water sent to SA, allowing Queensland, NSW and Victoria to retain more for productive and environmental purposes.

Obviously it would cost money and it’s likely the Commonwealth would have to assist the state government, which is seriously indebted, but none of it is technically difficult. The biggest barrier is political, unless South Australians can be convinced they have nothing to lose.

But if those in the eastern states like the idea of keeping more of their water, perhaps they could help their South Australian colleagues with a few facts. It might be more constructive than engaging in all the other arguments about water.