Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says Environment Minister Peter Garrett must reveal the Government’s overall plan for saving South Australia’s Lower Lakes.

Last night in a Senate Estimates hearing, Senator Hanson-Young questioned the Minister representing Mr Garrett, Senator Penny Wong, about the various Lakes proposals referred by the South Australian Government to the Federal Government for approval, which include the Wellington weir and salt water flooding.

“The Government must reveal its overall plan for saving the Lower Lakes,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

“Rescuing the lower reaches of the Murray - which means the river, the Lakes, and the Coorong - must be thought through with a holistic approach.

“All proposals and their inevitable knock-on effects on one another should be considered together as an integrated strategy.

“Rather than the bits-and-pieces approach currently being applied to this weir or that regulator, the Greens are calling on the Government to immediately explain its master plan.”

Senator Hanson-Young also asked if Minister Garrett’s assessment would take into account possible effects on the quality of water above the proposed Wellington weir.

“The potential contamination of South Australian drinking water is an extremely serious issue,” she said.

“The proposed weir should not go ahead if it will cause the quality of water to deteriorate.”