Author: David Boyd

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 →

River Management

Letter Sent to the Sydney Morning Herald on 10.02.10Water Management in the Murray Darling BasinPaul Myers (Only rain can solve riddle of the rivers -SMH 10th February,2010) is so right in his central point that only rain can solve the water shortages in the Murray Darling Basin. The Government buying back water licenses, when there … Continue reading River Management →

Darling River-Flow Variability and Magnitude

At Christmas time the Darling River at Bourke had ceased to flow and real fears were held for the towns future water supply. Irrigation was out of the question. Then it poured across north/western NSW as the remnants of a cyclone made their way across the continent from the n/w of Western Australia.The Darling River … Continue reading Darling River-Flow Variability and Magnitude →

Toorale Water Claims

The Federal Government is now claiming (Penny Wong ABC AM 03/02/10) up to 20,000 megalitres of water returned to the Darling River as a consequence of the Government's purchase of Bourke's iconic Toorale Station. A few weeks ago they claimed 11,000 megalitres, so presumably this new figure is additional?The irrigation water storage on Toorale (Ross' … Continue reading Toorale Water Claims →

Flood Water Flows in the Darling

The recent publicity about the flood flows in the Darling, the return to the river of Toorale irrigation water, the Menindee Lakes and the needs of the Lower Lakes in South Australia, highlights some of the misunderstandings that prevail.I contend that the unique feature of the Murray Darling Basin and of Australia generally, is massive … Continue reading Flood Water Flows in the Darling →

Global Warming

I am not into conspiracy theories. However, when you think about the millenium bug,the salinity exaggeration of a few years ago, the continual threats to the Great Barrier Reef (whatever happened to the Crown-of-thorns-star-fish?) and now the global warming beat-up, you wonder.The term 'climate change' is much better than 'global warming', as you can win … Continue reading Global Warming →

Christmas Greetings

9th December,2009Another year has rolled by and we are still here. For that and all our other blessings we should be thankful. We wish you a very Happy Christmas and a safe, healthy and prosperous (post GFC) New Year.There is just so much of interest around us and, of course, it all keeps changing. I … Continue reading Christmas Greetings →

Submission to Productivity Commission

Submission to Productivity Commission on Water RecoveryOverviewThis submission is brief, long on assertion and short on evidence. This is not because the assertions are not defensible, but rather because of limited resources. I would be happy to enlarge verbally should the Commission be interested.Assertions1.The key characteristic of Australia’s inland rivers (where most irrigation takes place), … Continue reading Submission to Productivity Commission →