Wed, Jun 18 11:30 AM
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) _ A government minister warned on Wednesday that a drought crisis needed urgent attention or a crucial Australian river system could suffer permanent ecological damage by October. Climate Change and Water Minister Penny Wong said she received a scientific report in May warning that the unique ecology of the southern reaches of the drought-stricken system of the Murray and Darling Rivers would be irreversibly damaged if there is not sufficient water in it by October.
Wong, speaking at a news conference, did not suggest what action might be taken. Environmental groups have long called for authorities to improve the rivers' flows by slashing the amount of water allocated to farmers.
Farmers have countered that rural communities would be ruined if agricultural water allocations were cut. Australia's worst drought in a century has been creating ecological and economic crises in the Murray-Darling river system, which supports most of the nation's irrigated farms.
Australian Broadcasting Corp. Radio reported earlier Wednesday on the dire predictions, made in a leaked copy of a report from the South Australia state Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board.
The report warned that the Murray River's lower reaches were near a point beyond recovery, with wetlands now dry and some native fish species wiped out, the ABC reported. A separate copy of the report could not immediately be obtained.
"In relation to the specific report, I have asked my department for some urgent advice," Wong told reporters. "We do need to act urgently and we have been aware of the problem for some time.
" Wong said two years of record low rain have placed pressure on the dual river system, particularly lower lakes and wetlands. "We don't pretend this is an easy problem to deal with," Wong said.
"We are dealing with a problem of years of inaction and delay and a problem which is being made worse by climate change." The government promised in April to spend 3.1 billion Australian dollars (US$2.9 billion) to buy river water irrigation allotments from farmers in a bid to revitalize the crucial Murray-Darling system.
The allocations could be sold on a voluntary basis by struggling farmers who want to leave the land. The spending is the most expensive component of a 10-year, A$12.9 billion (US$12.1 billion), plan to reduce water wastage on Australian farms and in its cities.
Australia is the driest continent after Antarctica, and all major cities face restrictions on the use of drinking water.
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