The whole of his final paragraph reads “Our river systems are precious. If they die, we die. And they are dying.”

This story was more shocking then I expected.

The talk of the death of the Murray-Darling made me reflect back on when I first heard about these rivers. I was about ten years old, in the upstairs classroom of Bronte Public School listening to my teacher Mr Hogben.

Mr Hogben had drawn a map of Australia on the blackboard, outlining the states and then colouring in the rivers we were to learn about that day – the Darling, the Murray and the Murrumbidgee.

I remember Mr Hogben giving great emphasis to how this river system embraces four states. I think each state had a different colour. The map stayed on the black board for a number days.

It was decades later that I came to realise that the Murray-Darling is about a lot more than rivers.

If you don’t get to read the entire book use the index and look up “overland flow”. Here you will learn about the extraordinary way the outback has been replenished over the millennium - rivers flood, break their banks and the waters spread to the horizon.

NSW farmers assoc – flew out. Met with locals just below border. Anger real. Robbed of water, robbed of their livelihood.

The diversity of ecosystems is extraordinary and acreage of grasslands appear that are critical to cattle and sheep production.

Rivers – just one part of the complex water system. Below ground another water regime. Aquifers. 

Fortunate also to work with Caroona farmers – Gunnedah. Opposing coalmine exploration. Major concern is damage to aquifers.

à BHP has paid the State Government $100 million just for the right to explore a 350 square kilometre portion of the Liverpool Plains. Earlier studies showed there would be 500 million tonnes of coal buried here.

à Tim on 730 report “If this mine goes ahead, someone in 20 years time will look at what has happened here and they will think that it's the greatest travesty that's ever happened in Australian agricultural history.”

As Geoff Hewitt, third generation farmer from Queensland said earlier this year, “It defies logic that a farm capable of producing premium food for thousands of years into the future would be permanently destroyed to allow for 20 years of coal mining.”

The Liverpool Plains is critical for food security. The land yields 40% above the national average, there is premium soil, water and climate. As an agricultural zone, the Liverpool Plains contribute $332 million to GDP annually.

Blockade to stop exploration.

Namoi River that flows into Barwon and onto Darling River.

When you read this book the climate change alarm bells ring. So I was so pleased that just a few pages into “Cry Me A River” Steve nails responsibility on the coal industry and dismantles the clean coal myth.

Steve states on page 6 and 7

In this uncertain world we face because of climate change, peak oil, the economic recession our rivers, our waterways, our catchments areas need to be respected, protected.

We understand that these diverse ecosystems should be safeguarded for reasons of biodiversity and the rights of others species to exist –

 but even if look at these rivers as selfish human beings an obvious priority is to ensure their health.

These water systems are  a massive safety net for us.

Mining and greedy agri industries are increasingly encroaching upon waterways and farmland and this in turn undermines our future food security.

Greens response. Campaign with farmers. Working together on private members bill - Mining (Safeguarding Agricultural Land & Water from Mining Bill) Amendment Bill – no mining on or under prime agricultural land or land near a river or aquifer.

The greens believe that governments should be responsible for safeguarding productive agricultural land.

We need balance in our world

balance between mining and agriculture, between food and resources.

Rural land is increasingly lost to degradation and urban encroachment.

by 2025 water scarcity may inflict a loss of 350 million tonnes of food production annually.

As I travel around the state I see growing fear and anger within rural communities. I hear stories of:

·                              down stream impacts

·                              polluted streams and creeks

·                              cracked riverbeds

·                              unknown effects on underground water table

Steve in his epilogue describes how he “has seen the writing on the wall”.

It’s a great read, the adventures are entertaining, but this book is deeply sobering. It is a wake up call for all of us.