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December 20, 2006
This is a major storage dam in the Murray-Darling Basin--a major piece of infrastructure for the irrigation industry. No rains no water. That is the effect of drought overlaid with climate change. It produces a drier and hotter Australia.
Simon Dallinger, aerial shot over Lake Hume, near Huon, 2006
Some argue that the way to address the water shortages faced by the cities is to build more dams. What's the point if there is no rain? Shouldn't we be recycling what we currently have?
Some reckon it is going to rain tomorrow, all will be okay because this is the natural order of things. For them nature has no history. It's just a question of endlessly repeating cycles.
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We need to be seeing more visual images. Drought is very difficult to visualise. We are used to deserts and arid areas in Australia. Our taps keep turning on. Talk is cheap. Real action is needed. The Commonwealth looking to take over the rivers would be fine, if it lead to stronger water planning and management of the resource, along with adequate infrastructure investment. Not sure it will be easy to get away from the pork barrel side of water politics however.