Help save NSW Rivers!

[Fitzy]

NATURE CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF NSW

SAY NO to Government Privatising NSW Rivers

ACT NOW for the Future of our rivers

The NSW Government is proposing to privatise our rivers NOW. This is a fundamental erosion of your right to protect and enjoy your rivers. These proposals will see rivers put into the hands of banks and irrigators. The Nature Conservation Council is outraged at this blatant step by the
Government away from its environment policy.

The Government is handing over at least $6.8 billion worth of public water to irrigators - no strings attached. To return water to our rivers, birds and fish we will have to pay high market prices to get it back from the irrigators.

People concerned about the future of our rivers need to ACT NOW:

Say NO to the Privatisation of our Rivers

Say No to a Public Water Give Away

Say NO to extended Water Sharing Plans

Support our demand for healthy rivers in 10 years. We want rives that we can swim in. We want rivers that have frogs and fish living in them. We want wetlands with birds.

Help NCC to halt the degradation of our rivers. Write a letter or send an email to your local MP and the Premier now opposing all of the points above.

Pass this message on to others.

Urge the people around you to get motivated on this crucial issue.

Once these decisions are made there is no going back. We need your support NOW to stop this irreversible disaster. A sample letter is included below but feel free to add your own thoughts.

For more information contact Rachael Young, Water Policy Officer at NCC on 02 9279 0955, email ryoung@nccnsw.org.au or check out our website www.nccnsw.org.au

[Fitzy]

SAMPLE LETTER
[hr]

The Hon Bob Carr MP
Premier of NSW
Level 40
Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney 2000.


Dear Premier,

No Privatisation of NSW Rivers

I am appalled at current NSW government proposals to hand over permanent access to NSW Rivers to irrigators. I strongly oppose this proposal and all the amendments associated with it as they are an erosion of my rights as a member of the NSW public to have a say over how the rivers in my state are managed.

I feel that it is completely unreasonable for the Government to consider the irreversible decision of licences in perpetuity while our rivers are still dying. The Murray Cod has been listed federally as vulnerable and most of our rivers arent fit for swimming in not to mention drinking. I want healthy rivers for NSW that have wildlife and in which I can go swimming.

I am completely opposed to the proposition of giving a share of water to irrigators just so that the public can then pay compensation to return environmental flows to the rivers especially as environmental flows are already agreed government policy.

I also strongly oppose the extension of water sharing plans and approvals without community consultation or adequate environmental impact assessment.

The water sharing plans are totally inadequate and do not deserve to be extended in their current state.

The Minister and DIPNR have not consulted the broader public on these issues and irreversible decisions about the future of our rivers are being made in secret. This is unacceptable.

I am very disappointed in the performance of the Carr government in handling this issue. These proposals should all be withdrawn and a concerted effort to return our rivers to health should be an absolute priority.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

...................

[basserman]

copied and added my say and going to post this right away!
what a joke and they say they are looking after our intrests!
bobbie car trying to do it again $$$$$

[agnes_jack]

Fitzy
They have got to be Kidding! > > > >

Tony

[basserman]

what gets me tony is we (NEW SOUTH WELSHMEN) pay for a rfl that was put their to buy out pros and bring the rivers back to the genral public then they go and try to do this! > > >

[Fitzy]

what gets me tony is we (NEW SOUTH WELSHMEN) pay for a rfl that was put their to buy out pros and bring the rivers back to the genral public then they go and try to do this! > > >

Its called a "hidden agenda". I'm only the messenger on this. Was sent to me via connections in the conservation game. A crying shame if it goes ahead.

Makes a mockery of the RFL.....

Fitzy..

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

Guess they will maintain that the water gets returned to the river via the water table. All the chemicals and pesticides are supplied FOC. >

[Jeremy87]

What our rivers need is less farmers pumping water out of it not more. Salinity is already a problem without removing more water. What we need is a compromise. All farmers applying for new water leases should be made to use efficient drip irrigation and the money raised from this should be used to fund studies on irrigation techniques, organic farming methods to minamise contamination and maybe even studying the ecosystems they are taking the water from and how the change is affecting them. As a mid term project they should try to faze out overhead irrigation. I'd like to extend my full support to Fitzy as this is a topic that will affect all Australians, not just fishermen.
Jeremy

[basserman]

Makes a mockery of the RFL.....

Fitzy..

it sure does make a mockery out of it and sure makes me wonder why we even bother now >
i belive it doesn't matter what type of irragation they use the point still remains that they brought pro licence out useing our rlfs and now going to sell the reclaimed water from us and i know we will not see a ting from it and even worst we will be once again restricted from parts of the rivers and the rest of the rivers will be getting hurt from water drops and ristriced flows! not that hurts more fish than pro fishermen! [smiley=angryfire.gif] [smiley=angryfire.gif] [smiley=angryfire.gif] [smiley=angryfire.gif]

[basserman]

recived a reply from the letter i sent the prem. it goes something like this
The Premier has recived your letter concerning the NSW water reforms.
As the matter you have raised primarily concerns the administation of the minister for infrastructure and planning and the minister for natrual resources , the Hon CJ Knowles, the premier has arranger to bring you approach to the minister's attention
You may be sure the your comments will receive close consideration.


well i guess it is now a wait and see!
lets hope they relises the damage this type is pumping for irrigation does