The action today was stunning. We started on time at 10.30am at the Clayton Bay Picnic Shelter where we had a fabulous display of flyers, maps, models and photographs and a table with t-shirts, badges and bumper stickers.

Welcome!
Anne Hartnett, Chair of the River, Lakes and Coorong Action Group Inc. welcomed the 150 who had gathered and got a good laugh when she held up the black and yellow postcard with the question to Premier Rann: “What would you say to an obstruction at the end of your system?” The cards are flying off the shelf and are, we hope, on their way to Mike. [download as pdf]

Ngarrindjeri elder, Major Sumner, painted up in exquisite detail, called to the ancestors, Indigenous and non-Indigenous to help the action that was putting life back into the country rather than taking it out. Elders Tom and Ellen Trevorrow spoke of their deep attachment to the country and the signs of life that the recent rains had nurtured.

What’s Happening?
Diane Bell reviewed the outstanding environmental issues facing the local community.

• The Environmental Impact Statement for weir below Wellington at Pomanda Point thought to be completed 3-4 months ago, is yet to be released. [See: What's the Problem? ]

• The pumping of water from Lake Alexandrina into Lake Albert to prevent that lake becoming acidic continues. Talk to Leslie Fisher who lives there about the unintended consequences.
• There has been no consultation regarding a proposal for a weir at Clayton that began to gain momentum around July. Minister Maywald says no decision has been made yet but drills, barges and “experts” been busy. Talk to locals about the birds, plants and fish that will suffer.
• And now the SA government is seeking advance approval from the Federal Government to let salt into the Lower Lakes. We learned of the referral on December 1 and have till December 12 to make submissions on a decision that will be irreversible and ramify down the generations.

Diane also talked about what was happening with the campaign. We put out a call for partners amongst local groups and Adelaide people to help us “Adopt a River”. The partners were to save water, join us planting stressed areas of foreshore and nurture the new growth. We thought it a folly to flood the lakes to “save them”. Instead we decided to work with Nature.

The rains of July and August brought fresh water down Finniss River, Currency Creek and Angus River and refreshed to country and remarkable changes [See: “Know your Science” ] - Ask Henry Jones about the fish that are spawning.

Off to view the site where a weir could be built at Clayton
The assembled crowd walked to the site of the old water tower, viewed the potential weir site and did some bird watching with Marian Thompson. We tried to imagine that strip of water with a weir blocking the wind driven tides of fresh water that freshen the lakes. 

This?

or this?

And now to plant
We then all walked to the planting site on Alexandrina Drive where Tom Trevorrow and Major Sumner lit a ti-tree smoky fire. The Ngarrindjeri smoking ceremony cleansed the participants and the planting areas while the pelicans flew overhead.

Carole Richardson took charge of the planting, explaining the choice of plots and species. It was a peaceful productive site with a busy hum. Children, parents, grandparents all working together. Then on went the Adelaide water and we signed our placards and put them beside our plants.

Lunch and more fun
Everyone then walked back to the picnic shelter for a BBQ of local Coorong mullet with Gloria and Henry Jones. Best fish.

There was lots of mix and mingle, question time and discussion of future actions. People studied the displays boards, read the materials and agreed to continue the campaign.

Shirley Smith helped us with a Speakers’ Corner where we could talk to key pollies, represented as faces on poles. We said what we thought of the action and asked questions. The community position been consistent – no weirs to break the connections of the river, lakes and Coorong and no salt in the lakes. Please read a “Fresh History of the Lakes” [link to pdf] pay attention to the facts, not the fictions. The Lakes have been a predominantly fresh water environment for the last 7,500 years.

We sang our Murray Christmas Carols written the ReedWarblers Collective who is now taking booking for further performances.

Anne Hartnett did the thank yous and then led a site visit to Point Sturt to view the acid sulfate soil sites and regrowth after recent rains.