Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the agreement by state and federal water ministers today to flood the Murray’s lower lakes with seawater in a worst-case scenario of low rainfall is an environmentally, socially and economically disastrous option that should not be considered.

Senator Hanson-Young said there were better options than saltwater flooding that could be taken to rescue the Lower Lakes.

“The water ministers today agreed upon saltwater flooding as the ‘strategy’ to fix the situation in the Lower Lakes – but it’s not a ‘strategy’, it’s an irreversible environmental disaster waiting to happen,” she said.

“Although it’s being sold to us now as the response to the worst-case scenario, let’s not forget that saltwater flooding of the Lower Lakes has been on Minister Wong’s agenda for some time.

“Minister Wong ran up the white flag on the Lower Lakes months ago.

“Today’s announcement is simply more of the same.

“Saltwater flooding would be the last nail in the coffin for the Lower Lakes’ Ramsar listing as internationally significant wetlands.”

Senator Hanson-Young said there were more appropriate and immediate actions to take on the Lower Lakes.

“What the Lower Lakes need is 60 gigalitres of fresh water.

“It is possible, and we know so from the expert evidence presented at the Senate Inquiry.

“The Greens, unlike the state and federal Labor governments, refuse to ignore that evidence.”

Senator Hanson-Young said there were also options ready to be carried out to save the Coorong, as recommended in the Senate Inquiry submissions and hearings.

“The Coorong has hypersaline water within its southern lagoon – pumping 50 gigalitres of that out would be a great start.”

Senator Hanson-Young said the Greens would not give up on the lower Murray.

“The water is there, but the political will isn’t,” she said.

“As South Australia faces its hottest, driest summer yet, the Greens will continue to fight for freshwater flows for the Lower Lakes and Coorong.”

Media contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760