Don’t let our Territory Rivers become a Murray-Darling disaster

Our Top End rivers are under threat from big business – like cotton – that bulldoze and take more water.

What needs to happen

No dams on the Daly and Roper – prior commitments to ‘no new dams’ need to be enacted with specific regulations and legally binding measures.
Precautionary binding limits on water take – there is significant evidence that existing water take is impacting on rivers. A review of existing licenses and impacts on rivers is needed. From this review sustainable limits of take need to be determined and made legally binding on decision makers. Until this is done, there should be no further increases to water extraction.
New water laws that protect rivers – planned new water legislation needs to include measures to legally protect high value rivers, aquifers and wetlands and to involve communities and Traditional Owners in catchment level planning.
River clearing buffer zones – well defined, enforceable land clearing buffers need to be implemented alongside all iconic Territory Rivers like the Daly and Roper. This should be a minimum of 1km and consider larger areas where there are sensitive floodplain habitats or cultural values present.
Funding for local communities to actively take part in water decisions – Targeted support is needed for communities and representative organisations to fully engage in decisions on governance models, development pathways, water planning, licencing and protection over the long term.