Mike Rann makes River Murray plea to PM Kevin Rudd

[Jimmy_041]

DOUG ROBERTSON
January 06, 2010 03:15pm
PRIME Minster Kevin Rudd must intervene to convince the NSW Government to release recent floodwaters into the River Murray, Premier Mike Rann says.

In a letter sent to Mr Rudd today, Mr Rann said without Federal Government action, South Australia will be denied millions of litres of water which are critical to the state's environmental welfare.

An estimated 300 billion litres from recent floods in NSW will flow into the Menindee Lakes in the Murray-Darling Basin within two weeks.

But under present arrangements, none will be released downstream into our parched river system.

Copies of the letter were sent to Federal Climate Change and Water Minister Penny Wong, Environment Minister Peter Garrett and NSW Premier Kristina Keneally.

"I urge the Commonwealth to urgently enter into discussions with the New South Wales Government to ensure a significant proportion of this water passes downstream into the River Murray to support the survival of ... icon sites, in particular the Lower Lakes, Coorong, and the Murray Mouth," Mr Rann wrote.

"Without the Commonwealth's urgent intervention, the distribution of this water will be governed by existing historical arrangements, which are outdated and do not meet the current environmental needs in the context of climate change and a severe long-term drought."

The eastern state are currently negotiating a plan for new controls over water in the Murray-Darling Basin, which feeds the Menindee Lakes and the River Murray.

Mr Rann said SA's plight was so dire it can't wait for that plan to be ratified.

"Prior to the implementation of the Basin Plan, a demonstration of the good faith and commitment of the health of the River Murray, Lower Lakes and Coorong, urgent consideration should be given to the allocation of floodwaters to assist the downstream health of the river," Mr Rann wrote.

"I am sure the Commonwealth could once again use its good offices to assist in brokering an agreement to provide additional environmental flows."

THE FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER FROM MIKE RANN TO KEVIN RUDD

Dear Prime Minister,

As you would be aware, the recent extensive rainfall across northern New South Wales has generated significant stream flows that are now entering the Barwon-Darling System and are expected to reach the Menindee Lakes system in the next two weeks.

I urge the Commonwealth to urgently enter into discussions with the New South Wales Government to ensure a significant proportion of this water passes downstream into the River Murray to support the survival of Ramsar-listed icon sites, in particular the Lower Lakes, Coorong, and the Murray Mouth.

All of the states involved are supporting the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to develop the Basin Plan that will set new sustainable diversion limits and provide for enhanced environmental outcomes such as increased environmental flows.

However it will be some time before the plan becomes fully operational.

Without the Commonwealth's urgent intervention, the distribution of this water will be governed by existing historical arrangements, which are outdated and do not meet the current environmental needs in the context of climate change and a severe long-term drought.

That is precisely why the MDBA is developing the new Basin Plan, which will be a long-term solution to this historical injustice.

Prior to the implementation of the Basin Plan, a demonstration of the good faith and commitment of the health of the River Murray, Lower Lakes and Coorong, urgent consideration should be given to the allocation of floodwaters to assist the downstream health of the river.

I am sure the Commonwealth could once again use its good offices to assist in brokering an agreement to provide additional environmental flows.

I look forward to hearing from you on this crucial national issue.

Yours sincerely,

MIKE RANN

Premier

Cc: Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water

The Hon Peter Garrett AM, MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

The Hon Kristina Keneally MP, Premier of New South Wales

Well FFS, what can I say about the guy who did everything possible to stop a federal takeover of the Murray-Darling system and told us that the Labor Governments would work together to solve the problem

What have we got Mike? - absolutely SFA other than you now begging the federal government to intervene - choke on the dust Mike

[southee]

What a absolute joke!!!

If you believe this is not a election "smoke and mirrors" stunt...you might as well believe in the Easter Bunny!!!

Never known a Premier to treat the people of a state as stupid!!!

[redandblack]

Calm down, boys.

PS: Not long to the Easter Bunny coming

[Psyber]

It ain't gonna happen.
Eventually the Murray won't reach SA at all, just like the Colorado no longer reaches Mexico.
The national takeover was the only possible solution, and even that may not have worked by the time various deals had been done to get it through.

[Jimmy_041]

Where's Mr X

[Ian]

Never known a Premier to treat the people of a state as stupid!!!

It's been pretty much the norm for the past 20 years, can't understand why you are so suprised, Labor, Liberal, doesn't really matter, most are there for themselves

[Punk Rooster]

It ain't gonna happen.
Eventually the Murray won't reach SA at all, just like the Colorado no longer reaches Mexico.
The national takeover was the only possible solution, and even that may not have worked by the time various deals had been done to get it through.

witnessed first hand over christmas how the water is being wasted in Mildura- Orange trees that looked like the growers mistook them for rice paddys...

[mick]

Spin and bullshit of a few years ago has come back to haunt mediocre mike.


http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-letter-rann-should-write-to-rudd/

[dedja]

Bloody Hans Brix ... I'm so ronery

[Sojourner]

Good to see that federal control of the river system is working so well. If it hasnt changed for the better by the State Election I do think this is going to cost Labor votes.

[Jimmy_041]

Rann caught out on water

RENATO CASTELLO
January 10, 2010 12:01am

PREMIER Mike Rann has been caught out claiming credit for securing billions of litres of "extra water" for the Lower Lakes it was destined to get anyway.

He boasted several times on radio this week that his Government had "negotiated . . . 170 billion extra litres of water to come down for the Lower Lakes over the next few months".

The Government has now admitted there were no actual negotiations specifically for this extra amount of water and that the 170 billion litres, or gigalitres, was yet to be secured in full.

The 170GL Mr Rann referred to this week is actually part of SA's current River Murray entitlement and includes additional water purchases.

Last November, he announced that because of "winter rains" and a mid-year 50GL water purchase for an undisclosed amount ". . . billions of litres of extra environmental water will be reserved in upstream dams and then released into the Lower Lakes over summer and autumn".

Yet on Thursday, he told ABC radio: "There's some good news and that is that we negotiated for 170 billion litres of water for the Lower Lakes.

"What we're doing is negotiating behind the scenes, that's how we got 170 billion litres of extra water."

While imploring Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to force the NSW Government to release recent flood waters downstream, Mr Rann said on 5AA: "We've negotiated, and I can sort of explain this now, 170 billion extra litres of water to come down for the Lower Lakes over the next few months. The good news is 170 billion extra litres of water will be going down to the Lower Lakes because we negotiated.

"What we're doing is negotiating. First of all we've got to find out what the quantum of water is, and then we've got to negotiate what proportion that we are getting. But that 170 billion litres I mentioned before, we weren't going to get. We negotiated to get it and that's the advantage of actually negotiating."

On Wednesday afternoon Mr Rann Twittered: "Murray. SA negotiated for environmental flow of 170 billion litres water for lower lakes. 15b litres to lakes in Dec. 72b by end of Jan."

On November 2 last year, Mr Rann and Environment Minister Jay Weatherill issued a joint media release saying winter rains had meant billions of litres of extra environmental water would be reserved in upstream dams and then released into the Lower Lakes over summer and autumn.

The release said: "Mr Rann says the recent winter rains have bolstered the State's ability to reserve more water for the environment, so that water can be used for the Lower Lakes and for environmental projects in the River Murray.

" This extra water in the River Murray has given the State Government more flexibility in where we can allocate water - and the Lower Lakes will need more water over summer and autumn.

"We aim to secure between 120 and 170 billion litres for the Lower Lakes over the next five months.

"This will be in addition to the purchase of 50 billion litres announced earlier in the year, now in storage in the Hume and Dartmouth dams."

The State Government this week could not confirm the 170GL reserve of water actually existed. The Opposition described Mr Rann's claims this week as "dishonest".

Opposition Water Security spokesman Mitch Williams said Mr Rann had simply re-announced water allocations already secured under current water entitlements.

"I think it is outrageous that Mike Rann would try to promote that he negotiated more water for the Lower Lakes when he hasn't - it's an absolute untruth," he said.

"That water comes from South Australia's allocation for this water year in the light of good winter rains.

"He has shot to pieces his own credibility - does he seriously think the rest of SA has no memory at all?"

Mr Williams accused Mr Rann of "political spin" to try to deflect attention away from the Government's lack of action in securing SA's long-term water needs.

No one in Government this week could confirm how much of the 170GL had been actually secured.

When asked how Mr Rann had negotiated the water allocation he referred to this week, his principal media adviser Jill Bottrall directed inquiries to Water Security Minister Karlene Maywald's adviser Owen Brown, who did not return phone calls.

In an emailed statement Mr Weatherill said since 2007 and under "the current extreme drought conditions" SA had had to negotiate with NSW and Victoria to receive a share of the River Murray water.

"It is this negotiated share of water, in addition to water purchased by SA that makes up the 170 billion litre environmental reserve," he said.

"While the South Australian Government was successful in negotiating sufficient water to make the environmental reserve possible, the water sharing arrangements do not meet the environmental needs of the River and Lower Lakes."

Pants on fire....................

Love the way the Rammer makes the statement but Jill Rottrall handballs the dynamite to the Karlene Maywald - serves her right

[redandblack]

Why do so many Liberal supporters think it's devastatingly witty to change the names of their opponents

[Jimmy_041]

Why do you play the man and not the ball?

Because it is becoming increasingly difficult to defend this government or its just ingrained in the Labor mindset?

Rann - on the weekend - Im facing a smear campaign

What a laugh - but I think he actually thinks he is a god

[southee]

Jimmy - Rann will just use the line "I am the VICTIM HERE" on the water fiasco, his bogus Facebook page or any other thing that comes back to bite him ...

[Dirko]

How come at the press conference yesterday, when questioned about the water, he replied something like
"this government has bought in billions of defence contracts to this state"

No shit dickhead, but the question was about water...

Also at the announcement about "free" public transport. Pay $2 and park at the Entertainment Centre and catch a tram. Predicted to be used by 700 cars per day = $1400 a day, $7000 a week = $350 000 per year (approx). Not bad money for jam. Stop the City Council getting parking $$$, fill the trams and say what a success they are, and get $$$$ for space that isn't used during the day for 340 odd days of the year.

[redandblack]

What's playing the man about asking why you change people's names

As for the water issue, you seem to be having enough fun with it among yourselves. I'm not bothered to look at the same sites to put up contradicting articles every day.

[Jimmy_041]

Obviously you cant tell the difference, and BTW, the Liberals didn't get my 1st vote in either the House or Senate last Federal election so maybe Im not a Liberal supporter but an anti State Labor Govt supporter

Ahhh, another Gozu tactic - when you are cornered

"I cant be bothered with this sort of stuff" (until it suits him to quote it)
or
"Newspoll is manipulated by the Liberal staffers" (until it suits him to quote it)

Face it - Rann is increasingly being caught out

But..........no doubt it is a "News Corporation" conspiracy

What a front page yesterday - The main headline was some old bitty finding some old pots in her backyard whilst Rann caught lying (again) is a by-headline. The pressure they must be under from the Rann media unit - Renato Castello wont be getting any scoops for a while but I bet she's had a call from the Rotty

[redandblack]

Jimmy, I think you're getting a bit confused between me and Gozu.

Gozu is the one who often posts pro-Labor articles on this forum. You're the one who often posts pro-Liberal articles on this forum. I'm the one who doesn't post articles on this forum.

I still can't see why asking a question about name-changing is 'playing the man'

As for the media, were you referring to the Simon Birmingham free kick or the regular Alexander Downer column, or neither

[dedja]

How come at the press conference yesterday, when questioned about the water, he replied something like
"this government has bought in billions of defence contracts to this state"

No **** dickhead, but the question was about water...

Also at the announcement about "free" public transport. Pay $2 and park at the Entertainment Centre and catch a tram. Predicted to be used by 700 cars per day = $1400 a day, $7000 a week = $350 000 per year (approx). Not bad money for jam. Stop the City Council getting parking $$$, fill the trams and say what a success they are, and get $$$$ for space that isn't used during the day for 340 odd days of the year.

Yeah, not bad ... it will only take 100 odd years to pay off the trams that everyone can ride for free.

[Dirko]

Yeah, not bad ... it will only take 100 odd years to pay off the trams that everyone can ride for free.

The trams heading to the Entertainment centre will be empty anyway, so no worries filing them up with "freebies" to justify the journey.

Why don't they do this now and make the train trip free which is only a 200 metre walk away ?