Rethinking Australia’s Water Future
With increasing population and development pressures there has never been a greater need for truly effective, sustainable and transparent water management. Government lead strategies must give priority to community needs, First Nations’ water rights, environmental protection and long-term climate resilience. Recent research by Professor Richard Kingsford and others reveals “… large dam projects are costly gambles with public money. They often fail to deliver promised economic benefits. They also have major environmental, financial and social impacts.”
The Great Cumbung Swamp downstream of Wyangala Dam, during a severe drought in 2019, is an important refuge for waterbirds – a biodiversity hotspot. It’s also a particularly important cultural site. Richard Kingsford
Why building more big dams is a costly gamble for our future water security and the environment