Government Agency Decision Halts Water Flows, Threatening Wildlife
A prominent scientist has condemned a government agency's decision to stop water flows to wetlands in north-west New South Wales, describing it as "appalling" and "absolutely crazy" that researchers had to urgently rescue animals trapped in drying mud.
Reports indicate that turtles, waterbirds, frogs, and sheep have died following Water NSW's abrupt cessation of flows to the Gwydir wetlands region near Moree in March.
Environmental flows are water releases from dams and tributaries by the government intended to restore river and ecosystem health.
Researchers from the University of New England were filmed extracting broad-shelled turtles from mud as deep as thigh-level after the Gingham watercourse, which supports four Ramsar-listed sites, dried up.
Currently, thirty-nine turtles are housed at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo because water that could save them remains held in Copeton Dam. This is due to concerns raised by a landholder about potential inundation of private land.
Expert Criticism and Government Response
Professor Richard Kingsford, a river ecologist and conservation biologist at the University of New South Wales, described the decision to withhold flows as "appalling."
"I think it’s appalling because we have a catastrophe unfolding here," he said.
"There’s the solution to fix it, which has been agreed by the federal government and the state governments: environmental flows are for the environment.
"And we essentially have a process where a landholder is stopping the water that will save these turtles [from] coming down the river."
NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson stated the government is working on "pathways to reinstate those deliveries while managing liability as soon as possible." Australia has sought further details regarding the circumstances that led Water NSW to halt the flows, including any advice related to private land inundation.
Jackson added on Saturday that the government had acted urgently to relocate as many turtles as possible and that they would be returned to the Gingham watercourse once it is refilled.
Environmental and Ecological Impacts
Kingsford described the situation as a "classic bureaucratic tangle which should never happen," emphasizing the necessity of water flows to prevent such catastrophes.
"This is a wetland that can’t go where it used to because farming keeps gobbling up the margins of the wetland.
"We’ve got a whole rescue happening now and the only reason for that is the government won’t give them water. It’s absolutely crazy."
The Gingham watercourse is habitat to three turtle species: the broad-shelled turtle, the Murray River turtle, and the eastern long-necked turtle.
Professor Deb Bower, who has conducted population studies counting over 300 turtles in the area over several years, noted that besides turtles needing rescue, tracks suggest some eastern long-necked turtles have moved elsewhere in search of water. She confirmed that some broad-shelled and eastern long-necked turtles have already died.
Local Perspectives and Cultural Concerns
Grazier Jonathon Guyer, managing separate wetlands on his property, told Australia that the sudden stop of flows caused native birds to abandon nests and fledglings, frog deaths, and impacted other species including the endangered grey snake.
Polly Cutmore, a Kamilaroi traditional owner connected to the wetlands, described the impact on wildlife as "heartbreaking." She emphasized that wetlands are meant to be "one of our protective places."
"It’s where we thought there was always going to be plenty of room for our animals to survive," she said.
"I’m not happy with what’s gone down and am concerned irrigators are calling the shots over and over.
"It’s so disrespectful – they keep doing this stuff without even talking to us when it’s our country."
Bradley Moggridge, a Kamilaroi water scientist at the University of Technology Sydney, stated that if water does not reach culturally significant waterholes, Kamilaroi people cannot maintain their cultural connection and care for the land.
Australia has contacted the NSW Irrigators’ Council for comment.
