Editor's Jottings

Since the water levels in Lake Alexandrina have been rising there has been a corresponding improvement in the salinity levels, especially when compared with the situation in the Goolwa Channel.

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to notice that the Clayton regulator, which improved the level of water at Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island, actually prevents the natural processes of the Lake and River from keeping that water fresh!

It is therefore no surprise to learn that the South Australian Government is now seeking approval from the Federal Environment Minister “to pump additional environmental allocated waters into the Goolwa Channel pool from Lake Alexandrina to achieve environmental objectives within the Channel and allow water releases through the Goolwa barrage for ecological purposes.” It argues that there will be no impact on any matters of environmental significance as a result of such pumping, and that the general ecological health of Lake Alexandrina will be unaffected.”

At the same time we find that the Alexandrina Council Chief Executive is keen to promote a plan to dredge out a boat harbour at Milang between the jetty and the reed bed which when the water level drops again could very well turn into a sink-hole of salinity.

Furthermore, since it is Council policy at present not to push for the removal of the regulator at Clayton, it is difficult to imagine where the boats would sail from in order to visit this wonderful new boating destination.

Surely the time has come for us to start thinking about solutions to problems in the environment which don’t involve massive and costly engineering projects.