22 March 2019: The University of Canberra and the Murray Darling River Science Consortium welcome the release of the Independent Assessment of the fish deaths in the Menindee Lakes in the Lower Darling River.
The report is comprehensive and identifies the need for a renewed focus on knowledge gaps in order to manage and prevent future events of this type.
While there has been monitoring investment over the last decade, research investment has declined precipitously, to the extent that we now have less scientific capability to support implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan than we did a decade ago.
It is critical that there is new investment to ensure that we are using environmental water in the most effective way possible, particularly in times of water scarcity. There is also a need for a renewed focus on management at a whole-of-Basin scale in a way that integrates land and water management.
The Menindee fish kills are a reminder that the job around water reform in the Murray Darling Basin is not done, and that out of respect for the hard work and impacts of that water reform process, we need to ensure that we are well placed to ensure that its full benefits are realised.
Professor Ross Thompson, Chair of Water Science at the University of Canberra and leader of the Murray Darling River Science Consortium is available for comment: