Our Thirsty 13 are dying of thirst
Earlier this year the Victorian Government showed strong leadership by declaring four new national parks to protect River Red Gum forests and wetlands across northern Victoria. And while the decision remains an important one, these new parks and the many threatened species they protect could perish if they do not get significant amounts of timely and reliable environmental water. To emphasise the desperate need for more water we have produced the 13 Thirsty Species report, which highlights the plight of just 13 flood-dependent species. There are many more at risk.
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Take action now!
Please use our online letter asking the Victorian Premier to deliver significant amounts of environmental water to River Red Gum national parks, rivers and wetlands on a regular basis.
What else you can do
Send your own letter or email Premier Ted Baillieu, or phone his office direct.
| Premier Ted Baillieu Level 1, 1 Treasury Place, East Melbourne VIC 3002 Email: Ted Baillieu@parliament.vic.gov.au Ph: 03 9651 5000. Fax: 03 9651 5054. |
Contact your local MP
Let your local member in the Victorian Parliament know that our River Red Gum forests and wetlands need secure and reliable environmental water flows.
If you don't know who your local representative in the Victorian Parliament is you can find out by visiting the parliamentary website.
If writing a letter you could make the following points:
- The creation of Victoria's four new magnificent River Red Gum parks is a historic and far-sighted decision that will be good for the environment, the sustainability of the local economy, and the aspirations of indigenous people in the region.
- Our River Red Gum parks are under enormous stress from lack of water. Our ancient red gum forests and wetlands are still dying for a drink. Recent rains and flooding will not provide the long term fix needed for the survival of species like the Eastern Great Egret and the Murray Cod, which depend on these forest wetlands having enough water.
- Government action and leadership is required to ensure delivery of significant amounts of environmental water to River Red Gum national parks, rivers and wetlands on a regular basis.
- Leadership from you will help ensure that the Thirsty 13 and other threatened native plants and animals survive and flourish. River Red gum parks need your help.
Will you secure and deliver this water?
You could ask them to call on their party to commit to:
- Immediately establishing a high reliability environmental water reserve for the Goulburn and Murray River Red Gum national parks.
- Purchase in partnership with the Federal Government at least 300GL of new water for the Goulburn River and 250GL of new water for the Murray River by 2012.
- Develop ecologically robust environmental watering plans for River Red Gum national parks within two years.
- Immediately remove all barriers to water trade to enable purchases of environmental water.
