Archaic legislation needs overhaul to protect the river: Nature Conservation Margaret River Region

The head of the region’s peak conservation body has called for an overhaul of WA’s outdated Rights in Water Act to safeguard the Margaret River.
Nature Conservation Margaret River Region general manager Drew Mckenzie said the region’s namesake waterway needed more crucial support amid concerns about the drying climate and land owners continuing to draw supplies from the river.
Despite healthy rainfall so far this winter, Mr Mckenzie said the drying climate was a “confronting and pressing issue — and we need everyone acting on all fronts to do what they can”.
Mr Mckenzie said the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act was written in 1914 and had failed to keep pace with population growth, environmental expectations and climate change.
A recent forum held on July 31 also heard confirmation from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s Kath Lynch that stream flows were down 50 per cent on figures measured in 2001.
Dr Lynch said the Margaret River’s flow decreased 5 per cent for every one per cent drop in rainfall.
The scientist was measured in her comments in which she said the river had “amazing biological and ecological values” while acknowledging it also served as an important water source for nearby agriculture as well as drinking water.
However, Dr Lynch said the past year’s dry spell was a “game changer” for authorities.
“We need to think differently about how we manage water in a drying climate,” she said.
“All of the climate models predict that the South West of WA will become drier.
“We need to be adaptable, and we need really good science to inform our management.”
A DWER spokesperson told the Times long-term planning on the effects of climate change and how to manage it was already under way, and declined to bite on the call to revise the key legislation.
“DWER are aware of the community interest regarding the impact of climate change on our water resources and environment,” the spokesperson said.
“Current water resources legislation provides a number of tools to effectively manage water use and the department is focused on practical measures to achieve priority outcomes for WA.
“The water that has been allocated and is used in the Margaret River is a small proportion of total stream flow.
“DWER monitoring is showing ecological values are high and remain resilient in the region.”
Shire of Augusta-Margaret River chief executive Andrea Selvey said the integrity of DWER’s role managing water resources was respected within existing legislation.
But any review of the Act could “improve the integration between water, environmental, and development legislation to protect our environment while considering the needs of agricultural production and our community”.
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