Thursday, 30 May 2024

Murray River sand slug

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (17:40): (932) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Water and concerns the Murray River sand slug. This is not a mystical creature but rather millions of tonnes of sand, which is very, very slowly but surely making its way down the river towards Adelaide. The sand appears to be a historical throwback. It is clear from the analysis of the surrounding riverbed and banks that it has come from further up the river, and it is probably the result of goldrush-era river use and land clearance. The sand slug – 13 MCGs worth of sand – is up to 4 metres deep and is now accumulating in a narrow section of the river at the Barmah Choke. This will be a very big problem indeed. In a previous study, capacity through that section of river had reduced from 11,300 megalitres per day in the 1980s to just 9200 megalitres, and the 2022 flood run-off has worsened the problem. Doing nothing is unthinkable. The risk of summer water rationing, which would devastate productive agricultural industry, is real. Worse than that, there is a serious consequent risk of flooding in the area of the choke.

The problem is that governments seem to be moving as slowly as the sand slug. It has been known for years that something must be done, yet we have still seen no action. Federal and basin state governments always manage to find other priorities, and it is no surprise that those whose livelihoods are threatened and who will face flooding are beginning to get nervous. Finally, last year $2.35 million was committed by a joint meeting of ministers to addressing the problem. I have two issues with this. Firstly, it is clearly insufficient funding to actually address the problem. And secondly, has it actually yet achieved anything? I know there are environmental and cultural sensitivities, but I sincerely hope these are not preventing progress on the matter. The risk of flooding and drought further down the river cannot be ignored and must surely take precedence here.

The action I seek from the minister is an explanation of the timescale for delivery on the funding so far announced, an explanation of what is holding up the project and a commitment from the Victorian government that a full solution to the sand slug will soon be commissioned.