Buckets of sea water thrown into ailing Murray
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Goolwa locals throw sea water into the lower Murray (ABC)
Lower Murray residents are demanding that a temporary barrier be built on the lower reaches of the drought-striken river to lift the water level at Goolwa and stop sea water moving upstream.
In a symbolic protest, the residents have carried buckets of water from the ocean side of the Goolwa barrage to the fresh water channel upstream.
They say salt water has been seeping through the barrage for some time into the downstream Murray in South Australia and a barrier should be put in at Laffin's Point, just upstream from Goolwa to protect the fresh water.
A protest organiser, Randall Cooper, says a barrier would enable sea water to be pumped as far as Goolwa but not further upstream.
"I think we've done more today with one bucket of water for each person than the politicians have done in the last two years to try to save this river and this town," he said.
"It's no good waiting until it's just a dried up, muddy sewer. We have to act now - the time for procrastination is over."
