`Not enough water` to save Murray lakes

There is not enough water in the Murray-Darling Basin to save South Australia's lower lakes, a Senate committee has found. But a stinging counter report has demanded the government not give up. "There is not enough water in the system," the committee's majority report concluded. "This is the result of historic over-allocations, the current unprecedented drought and the emerging impacts of climate change."

South Australia's independent Senator Nick Xenophon, who co-authored the minority
report, said the lakes could be saved.
"If we had one river system, with one set of rules we could ensure an equitable
share of water for irrigators and the environment," Senator Xenophon said in
statement.
"Right now we have a situation where the eastern states basically take what they
like, and South Australia is left facing an economic and environmental disaster."
There have been suggestions the lakes should be flooded with sea water in an attempt
to keep them functioning.
The majority report, endorsed by Labor senators, does not fully back the move nor
rule it out.
"If the admission of sea water becomes necessary, the potential environmental
impacts should be subject to further detailed investigation and community
consultation," committee chair and Labor Senator Glenn Sterle wrote in the report.
The minority of the Senate's standing committee of rural and regional affairs and
transport - including Australian Greens senators - rejects the idea.
"We do not agree that there is not enough water available to address the
environmental needs of the Coorong and lower lakes systems," the minority report
says.
"We do not believe the flooding of the lower lakes with salt water is an option.
"We also note with concern approval for such a plan was given by the federal
environment minister without appropriate risk assessment having been conducted."