Murray sea plan threatens birdlife, says group
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Swans in the shallows: threat from Murray sea plan (user submitted: Marianne Wakelin)
The Wilderness Society says a birdlife survey in the lower Murray region highlights what will be lost if the lower lakes are cut off from the river and flooded with sea water.
An aerial survey in South Australia and Victoria by the University of New South Wales found the Murray's lower lakes and the Coorong are sustaining largest number and variety of birds.
About 40 species, or 250,000 birds, are evident despite environmental decline.
Peter Owen, from the Wilderness Society, says species will not be able to survive if a weir is built at Wellington on the lower Murray to safeguard Adelaide's water needs, cutting the lakes off from fresh water.
"It's a huge wetlands system that, you know, once upon a time was a haven for bird species and still is in terms of the bird species that are hanging on," he said.
"But if we are to essentially cut this area off from the rest of the river that's going to come at a very high price, I think, for the bird populations in the area.
"It highlights the importance of this area and it highlights the need to make sure we don't destroy it, because we've got a lot to lose here. I mean the lower lakes and Coorong is probably one of the most significant wetlands in this country."
