The rally is a signal from WAC and its supporters to major political parties and the media that communities and the public at large are mobilising into a movement that demands to be heard and demands policy change. We have had enough of the disastrous management of our water, our rights in South Australia which is having devastating consequences on our place, our communities and our quality of life. Water is a public trust connected to everything, itself, our ecosystems, our societies and our economies and should not be owned.
This is a WAC “Call For Action” Rally following on from the launch of WAC on the 19th July 2009 that culminates on the steps of Parliament House North Terrace for community groups to tell their stories and to collectively demand both Local, State and Federal Governments implement a National Commission to coordinate a State of Emergency into the Murray-Darling Basin and to establish an urgent National Public Commission of Inquiry into water management, conservation, recycling and sharing of any available resource.
THEMES
Stories of Despair by Community Groups
What are the consequences of governments continuing to get it wrong? Our Water will be privatised and owned by financial markets and overseas interests. Our marine, freshwater heritage and the public utility of our waterways will be lost forever to future generations. South Australia will not lead the world in conserving wastewater and stormwater in our cities and towns. Governments fail to uphold the Public Trust Doctrine.
Proclamation of Hope
If we act now we can fulfil Colonel William Light’s hopes, dreams and our responsibilities as trustees of our water, our rights. Public water policy must be changed to ensure water is a public trust, prioritised in use, conserved and sustainable to maintain a vibrant and healthy community both now and into the future. (Advertiser 15/9/09 – Light’s dreams)
RALLY PURPOSE
- Reject Rann’s Water Security Plan and the Privatisation of Water and its Management.
- Desalination and dams are not acceptable water security or management solutions.
- Demand that all of our rivers, creeks and underground water in South Australia must be allowed to fulfil their purpose, conserved and protected in public trust.
- The Murray must flow to the sea and the rivers and creeks of the South Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges must be allowed to flow into the Murray and Lower Lakes. The Coorong must be reconnected to its freshwater sources.
- Demand a National Commission be established by the Federal Government to coordinate a State of Emergency into the Murray-Darling Basin to prioritise and fairly share all available water. Establish an urgent full and open National Public Commission of Inquiry into its management.
- Demand that Adelaide’s coastal waters be saved from pollution by recycling 90% of our stormwater and wastewater for industry use instead of building expensive dams and desalination plants. Water conservation must use all available means such as rainwater collection.
- Our Gulfs are precious, unique and must be protected from ill-conceived marinas and their dredging consequences. Industry development proposals must result in no degradation of the marine environment or its ecology and there must be strict controls on dredging. This is of particular importance to the Upper Spencer Gulf region.
- Demand a full and open South Australian public commission of inquiry is immediately held in the management of water and the environment.
- Demand a referendum opposing the privatisation of water and its management.
CONTACTS
John Caldecott WAC Convenor Ph: 0427 976 503
Jim Douglas Rally Convenor Ph: 0417 875 232
Richard Watson Media Coordinator Ph: 0402 418 191
