‘No River Murray, no SA’: Quiet review will define SA’s future

The River Murray’s future is being decided after the Lower Murray was given a 50:50 chance of surviving the decade, Craig Wilkins says.

While we watch transfixed with the latest news from the middle east, a major review is quietly taking place that will, quite literally, define South Australia’s future.

For the last 150 years, our state – and particularly Adelaide – has relied on one water source above all else: the River Murray.

Even with the Port Stanvac desal plant, the Murray dominates. When we turn on our taps, most of the time, for most South Aussies, river water comes out.

And it’s not just households; industry relies heavily on the river as well. As do our famous wine regions like the Barossa or Clare Valleys. Even the rivers that run through our city, like the Torrens and South Para rely on the Murray to top them up during dry times.

There are different estimates of how long a human can survive without food, perhaps as much as two months, but there is no debate about surviving without water. We can’t last five days.........

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