Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the proposed Wellington weir will spell the death of South Australia’s Lower Lakes.

Yesterday a draft Environmental Impact Statement report on the weir proposal was submitted to the Federal Government.

“A weir at Wellington would spell the death of the Lower Lakes,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

“This and other proposed weirs will do nothing to save the Lower Lakes, but instead will set down the path for the South Australian Government to flood the Lakes with salt water.”

Senator Hanson-Young said an integrated strategy was needed to rescue the lower Murray, Lakes and Coorong.

“Rather than the bits-and-pieces approach of multiple applications, all proposals and their inevitable knock-on effects on one another should be considered at once, holistically,” she said.

“An integrated strategy must be implemented that takes into account the health of the Lower Lakes, the health of the Coorong, and the protection of our wetlands’ Ramsar listing.”

Senator Hanson-Young called on Environment Minister Peter Garrett to reject the South Australian Government’s weir proposal.

“This weir would be environmentally devastating for the lower Murray,” she said.

“Damming the river and flooding the Lakes with salt water does not amount to protecting them.

“It is the Environment Minister’s job to preserve our internationally recognised wetlands.

“Minister Garrett must put the environment first and reject this proposal.

“Securing and delivering fresh water flows to the lower Murray is what the Federal Government should be making a priority,” she said.