Revealed: opportunities to protect free-flowing rivers of Australia’s North
New report outlines ecological, cultural and economic values of river systems across Australia’s North.
A new study into the importance of free-flowing rivers has called for a holistic approach to managing water in the Northern Territory to avoid the mistakes of the Murray Darling basin.
The Free-flowing Rivers of Australia’s North report found that current approaches to managing rivers fail to account for their full cultural and environmental value, leaving local communities worse off as big businesses – such as cotton – are given water for free.
“In Australia’s North, rivers are mostly still free-flowing and healthy – a feature that makes them of global significance. These rivers are also renowned for the diversity of species, the strongholds they provide for species in decline, the exhilarating abundance of wildlife and their cultural significance for the people who have lived there for tens of thousands of years,” said Dr Carol Booth, lead author of the report.
“But the increasing threat of broadacre cropping – and with it destructive land-clearing, large water licenses and other environmental impacts – combined with a water management system that is ill-suited to manage these threats, could have devastating impacts on these precious and unique river systems.”
“Australia is privileged to still have the thriving rivers of the North – but any expansion of large-scale irrigation would inevitably compromise their future value. We must ensure these rivers are safeguarded as enduring ecological and cultural systems that sustain rich communities of life,” said Dr Booth.
“Governments must enact laws and policies that safeguard high-value rivers and their associated habitats, recognising the ecological, cultural, and economic significance of these waterways. This needs to include best-practice governance principles, transparent and inclusive decision-making processes and adherence to sound scientific evidence. This approach will help in rethinking policies and processes concerning the future of northern rivers, ensuring decisions are made in the best interests of both people and nature,” said Dr Booth.
“The Northern Territory is one of the last areas in the world to have such a high concentration of free-flowing tropical rivers. These rivers are immensely valuable to First Nations culture, the environment and fishing, boating and tourism industries. But historic and current water management laws and practices fail to account for the holistic value of these river systems – and are currently failing to provide them with proper protection,” said Mitch Hart, NT Manager for the Pew Charitable Trusts.
The report outlines several avenues for policy-makers to enact long-term protection for rivers, whilst also managing the interests of various stakeholders, including industry, communities and First Nations’ rights.
“Australians need to deliberate very carefully over the future of these rivers – for they have enormous value in their current form for people and nature. The nation has already paid dearly for the over-exploitation and degradation of many southern rivers, particularly in the Murray–Darling Basin, where rivers have been exploited with disastrous results. We cannot allow the same fate to befall the rivers of Australia’s North,” said Mr Hart.
Key recommendations:
- Develop laws and policies to protect high-value rivers and associated habitats
- Strengthen protection of cultural heritage and facilitate Traditional Owner management
- Strengthen water allocation processes to achieve more sustainable development
- Strengthen governance by enacting relevant principles under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the National Water Initiative Agreement
- Consult with stakeholders, the public and experts to review the White Paper on Developing Northern Australia and associated policies and programs
- Invest in evidence-based and co-designed development pathways
A full copy of the report is available here: https://territoryrivers.org.au/riversreport