September 2, 2020
It”s time now time to stand up for your fishery and your river by saying NO to unsustainable Intervalley Water Trading in the lower Goulburn River – downstream of Goulburn Weir.
Murray Cod, Golden Perch, Silver Perch, Trout Cod and even Murray River Rainbowfish have all declined over the past 2 years coinciding with these enormous water flows shifting water from the Goulburn River to the Murray River.
Soil is being washed away exposing root systems and leaving little chance for vegetation to return even with natural flows. It spells bad news for our native fish.
Minister for Water Lisa Neville MP has announced that the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has agreed to aim for inter-valley trade deliveries of a maximum of 40 gigalitres a month or less over summer and autumn.
This interim 40GL limit is welcomed but its still too high – and relies on it raining in NSW and rivers like the Murrumbidgee flowing. Disappointingly, implementing any new trading rules to protect the lower Goulburn River has now been delayed until the start of the 2021-22 irrigation season.
Right now, natural flows are coming down the Goulburn River which deposit seed-rich sediments to the river banks. Question is, will it be all just be washed away again in summer?
Join our call to Minister for Water Lisa Neville MP and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to step in and put our river and fish first by:
1. Maintaining summer flows below 940 megalitres per day during summer in the lower Goulburn.
2. Delivering water during naturally higher flow periods outside of summer months, in line with recommended flow regimes.
3. Listening to the expert advice by your catchment and fisheries managers who know the damage high summer flows are doing to our river and fish stocks.
