Queensland Conservation 166 Ann St, Brisbane, QLD 4000
ABN: 89 717 887 219
Ph: 07 3221 0188
Fax: 07 3229 7992
reception@qccqld.org.au
8th October 2010
For immediate release
Basin Plan sets out a sustainable future
The Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) has welcomed today’s release of the guide to the
Murray-Darling Basin Plan, saying it presents a once in a life time opportunity to set a course to a
sustainable future for the Basin’s environment, industries and people.
“The simple truth is that too much water has been taken out of the Murray Darling river systems for far
too long, which is the main cause of environmental degradation throughout the Basin”, said Nigel
Parratt from Queensland Conservation.
Data from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority shows that water extraction from the Basin’s rivers has
increased by 500 per cent in less than a century. This is clearly not sustainable and shows how the
Basin has been managed up until now hasn’t worked.
“What is needed is a national plan that ensures the whole Murray-Darling Basin is managed
responsibly to restore the balance between water that is extracted for irrigation and other purposes and
the needs of the environment”, Parratt continued.
Continuing to take excessive amounts of water out of rivers may benefit some businesses in the short-
term, but healthy rivers are needed to support communities, agriculture and tourism for the long-term.
“While it might cause some short term anguish, rectifying the overuse of the Basins water resources is
absolutely necessary to give the environment and people who rely on rivers in the Murray Darling Basin
hope of achieving a sustainable future”, concluded Parratt.
Media enquiries:
Nigel Parratt
QCC spokesperson
Mobile: 0407 962 652
Media Release
NEWS 
