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The Lake Eyre Basin. Great Artesian Basin. Lake Eyre Basin. Georgina. Diamantina. Cooper. Lake Eyre Basin. among the last major free-flowing rivers in the world. Kati Thanda - Lake Eyre - one of the larger terminal lakes in the world. 1.2 million square kilometres.
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Great Artesian Basin Lake Eyre Basin
Georgina Diamantina Cooper Lake Eyre Basin among the last major free-flowing rivers in the world Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre - one of the larger terminal lakes in the world 1.2 million square kilometres
Ramsar wetlands – Coongie Lakes Aboriginal heritage sites ● ● Mound Springs Channel country ● ● ● Permanent waterholes Significant places
High flow variability Lake Eyre Basin rivers Flow variability
Towns Grazing & agriculture Geothermal energy Tourism Oil, gas and mining Human footprint
Gwydir wetlands Chowilla ● ● ● Coorong Macquarie Marshes Unsustainable practices – Murray-Darling Basin
Emerging threats Vegetation clearing Changes to flow Weeds Feral animals Feral pigs
Critical vulnerability ….. Changes to flow • major dams • flow diversion • levee banks & floodplain harvesting • on-farm storages
Oct 2000 • Effective June 2001 • Northern Territory 2004 • reviewed June 2007
Catalysts for sustainability Proposal forWorld Heritage listing (1993) Currareva cotton application(1995)
→ Very strong community response • Lake Eyre Catchment Protection Group • Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group • Coopers Creek and Georgina-Diamantina Catchment Committees Supported by State and Federal governments
The Lake Eyre Basin Process • Grass-roots/bottom-up – community initiated • Community involvement remains strong
Current arrangements –Agreement Scientific Intergovernmental Agreement Community Ministerial Forum Government Agencies – Water and Environment
Ecological sustainability Socio-economic viability Lake Eyre Basin Agreement…. is about balance
Key messages • The Lake Eyre Basin is unique in the world. • The Basin is in good condition, but vulnerable to increasing pressures • A genuine basin-wide approach is essential • Working towards real ecological and social sustainability • Water is the key