Tonight's 7:30 Report provoked the following response from me to the reporter, my friend Paul Lockyer, who has reported so well on all the water out west.Dear Paul,Tonight's 7:30 Report made my hair stand on end! The only more inefficient water storage than Menindee Lakes in the MD Basin is the Lower Lakes themselves. Consider … Continue reading ABC 7:30 Report
Author: David Boyd
Australian Irrigation Misunderstandings
Arguably the world's leading weekly, "The Economist" recently ran an article on this subject. A well informed commentator wrote the following comment."There are great misunderstandings about Australia's water/irrigation situation. I contend that 90% of current water problems are the result of drought and around 10% mismanagement and over-allocation. It is disturbing to see Ken Henry … Continue reading Australian Irrigation Misunderstandings
Bourke Show Visit – Travel Log
Thursday 22nd April,2010After discovering the BMW had a flat battery, I finally set off from St Ives at 12 midday and drove straight to Dubbo. Only took 4.5 hours with one stop for a McDonald's hamburger in Mudgee. The Dubbo visit was focussed on the Clyde alumni. I stayed with former Toorale and Pier Pier … Continue reading Bourke Show Visit – Travel Log
Water Management-Facts and Myths
My friend, noted economist, David Trebeck recently gave what I think is the best paper on the general subject of water that I have read. Here is the link I commend it to you.
Australian Wool Industry
Attendance at yesterday's RAS Sheep and Wool Show Opening reminded me that I had never recorded the speech I was invited to deliver at the same event two years ago. It seems that it remains relevant to this great industry.2008 SYDNEY ROYAL SHEEP AND FLEECE SHOW OFFICIAL OPENINGAcknowledgements:President RAS- Rob Vickery (and Tina)Chairman Sheep and … Continue reading Australian Wool Industry
Toorale Station, Bourke
The purchase (for $23.75m)and closing down of Toorale Station at Bourke, can now be viewed with the value of two years hindsight and can be clearly seen as the great act of bastardry that many saw it as at the time. It was an action totally driven by cheap politics for consumption in Adelaide, that … Continue reading Toorale Station, Bourke
Lower Lakes
I sent the following letter to the SMH on Sunday 28th March,2010,"Your heart warming lead article on beneficial flooding in western NSW, (SMH 27th March) attributes a statement to Professor Richard Kingsford that the Lower Lakes (Alexandrina and Albert) at the mouth of the Murray, are below sea level for the first time in 7,000 … Continue reading Lower Lakes
Grandson
Now to important matters. We have a new grandson Maximus Ernst David Wintzer. A 9.5lb. boy to our baby daughter Susan and her husband Hagen. Max is the "ants pants", just ask his maternal grandmother (and his parents).
Water Management
As of today just under 1,400,000 megalitres of water has flowed down the Darling River past Bourke since Christmas. Water "saved for the river" as a consequence of the Government buying Toorale Station and its water licenses, remains at 10,000 megalitres-0.7% of the flow since Christmas.How's that for an investment of $23.75m.?
Lakes-Letter to The Australian 13th February,2010
Could someone please explain to me (As one lakes region comes to life, another is saved from death-The Australian February 13th-14th) why returning the Lower Lakes (Alexandrina and Albert) to more like their natural state and allowing sea water to enter as it always did when upstream rainfall and flows were low, would be such … Continue reading Lakes-Letter to The Australian 13th February,2010
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