20 Oct 2022

Water research hub committed to Goolwa │The Southern Argus

The prosperity of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth communities will be strengthened following the Federal Government’s commitment to invest in a water research hub managed by the Goyder Institute in Goolwa.

The Goyder Water Research Institute will receive $8 million to work with communities to investigate climate change impacts on the health of the Ramsar-listed waterways.

The investment honours the former government’s commitment, and places another vote of confidence in the growing Goolwa community.

It will also provide a huge boost to the local economy, and attract the best and brightest to work in the region.

“This investment is part of our plan to future-proof Australia’s water resources by investing in critical knowledge to improve management of the region as climate change impacts become more acute,” Federal Minister for Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, said.

“An important part of the Goyder Institute’s work will be to develop relationships with First Nations, communities, and industries to harness ideas to improve management of this ecologically important area.

“The projects the Goyder Institute undertake in the next four years will consider all these complex interdependencies to make sure we can manage these precious resources in a way that best meets the needs of our rivers and wetlands, communities, and industries.”

Member for Mayo Rebekha Sh a rk i e we l c o m e d M s Plibersek’s announcement.

“South Australians are all aware the Murray Mouth is in poor health, and climate change is wreaking havoc on the region,” she said.

“There is a strong community expectation that urgent action be taken to improve the situation. “This institute will be a new collaborative approach, and the project will be well-positioned to provide leadership in this critical area of research.

“I have worked closely with the local community as well as the Goyder Institute to jointly come up with a vision to create a vibrant and prosperous Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region, using a unique model bringing together First Nations, the community, governments and researchers.

“I have advocated long and hard for this institute, so I am therefore, extremely excited to see it finally come to fruition.”

South Australian Senator Andrew McLachlan also welcomed the announcement.

“The former Coalition Government committed $8 million to this project in 2020, and I am pleased Labor is now moving ahead with the institute’s development,” he said.

“This project was strongly supported by the Coalition Government from the initial planning stage, and I note the Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie’s longstanding advocacy on this issue.

“The River Murray is the lifeblood of South Australia, and it is essential that its environment and flows are maintained.

“Like all South Australians, I am concerned about the health of the Murray Mouth and Lower Lakes.

“As a Senator for South Australia, I will hold the Labor Government to its pre-election promise of delivering 450 gigalitres of environmental water to the Murray Darling Basin, as per the requirements of the Murray Darling Basin Plan.”

The hub is expected to be up[1]and-running in the first half of 2023, with a planned research program.