URGE THE WA WATER MINISTER TO PROTECT THE MARTUWARRA'S FLOWS

Urge the WA Water Minister to protect the Martuwarra's flows

Let the Water Minister know that you support the commitment to stop surface water being taken from the Martuwarra. Send a message today!

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Dear Minister McGurk, Premier Cook, Minister Buti, Minister Whitby, Minister Jarvis and Minister Punch,

Congratulations to you and the WA Government on the release of the key principles for the draft Fitzroy River Water Allocation Plan, and for listening to the community on the need to protect the surface water flows of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River.

This is a major milestone towards the Labor Government’s 2017 election promise to protect the Martuwarra Fitzroy River.

You have my strong support for the principle of no further surface water take from the Martuwarra Fitzroy River, which will protect the free and natural flow of the river and offer protection from large-scale water extraction.

I commend you on the principle to protect the alluvial groundwater aquifers in the river’s catchment, which are culturally and environmentally significant.

I urge you to take a cautious approach on any groundwater extraction that is co-designed with Traditional Owners, to ensure there is no damage to the cultural and environmental values of the catchment.

For decades, Traditional Owners along the Martuwarra Fitzroy River have been working to protect their rights, river, and culture.

I urge you to acknowledge and recognise the vital cultural connection Traditional Owners have with the Martuwarra and ask that Traditional Owners rights are at the forefront of the Fitzroy River Water Management Plan. Protecting these rights is inseparable from protecting the National Heritage Listed cultural values of the river.

In 2021, the WA Government received 43,000 submissions from Australian supporters in response to the draft Fitzroy River Water Discussion Paper, calling for all plans for large-scale water extraction to be abandoned and for the WA Government to co-design a protection model with Traditional Owners.

I strongly urge you commit to strong, long-lasting protection for the Martuwarra Fitzroy River and a central role in protection and management for Traditional Owners.

Once again, I congratulate you for the historic step towards protection of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River.

Yours sincerely,
[Your name will be automatically added]

Dear Minister McGurk, Premier Cook, Minister Buti, Minister Whitby, Minister Jarvis and Minister Punch,

Yours sincerely,
[Your name will be added automatically]

I am a constituent in your local electorate and I care about the future of the Fitzroy River. 
Recently 43,000 people made submissions on the WA Government’s Fitzroy River Water Discussion Paper, calling for the entire length of the Fitzroy River to be protected and no surface water to be taken from the Martuwarra or its tributaries.
I strongly support the ongoing commitment not to dam the river and to create a Fitzroy River National Park to provide sustainable jobs; but I am deeply concerned about proposals for large dams on the floodplains and the massive extraction of water from the river and floodplains.
The National Heritage-listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River is of outstanding cultural and environmental value. It is one of Western Australia’s largest listed Aboriginal heritage sites. The living waters of the river support culture, the livelihoods of thousands of people, and support tourism, fishing, and rare wildlife such as the critically endangered freshwater sawfish.
During the consultations Traditional Owners expressed strong concerns that they had not consented on plans to take water for irrigation developments and that it could lead to irreversible damage to cultural heritage and the environment.
Traditional Owners have urged government not to repeat past mistakes and ensure their voices are heard, so that the Martuwarra Fitzroy River is properly protected and does not become the next Juukan Gorge.
Large-scale irrigation developments will put the Fitzroy River on a Murray-Darling trajectory, with reduced water flows and increased pollution causing widespread ecological damage and loss of priceless cultural heritage.
I strongly urge you to work with Traditional Owners and the local community to grow and develop existing and potential sustainable industries, that benefit the economy, local communities, and the environment and do not risk environment, culture, tourism, fishing, or food security.
I am urging you, as my local Member of Parliament, to protect the Martuwarra Fitzroy River and reject plans for a new irrigated agriculture industry on the Fitzroy River or its floodplains. Can you tell me what you will do to protect the Fitzroy River?

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The WA Government has just released a new plan for protecting the Martuwarra Fitzroy River – including a crucial commitment to stop new surface water being taken from the river.

The new commitments will shape the future water allocation plan for the Martuwarra Fitzroy River, and once implemented will mean strong, long-term protection for the river.

Implementing this breakthrough commitment could stop a Murray-Darling disaster on the Fitzroy, so it is crucial the Water Minister knows there is widespread support from the community.

Here’s why you should send a message to protect the Martuwarra:

Proposals to pump huge amounts of water from the Martuwarra and its floodplains threaten to destroy this healthy, free-flowing river and create a Murray-Darling disaster.
This is our chance to protect the Martuwarra Fitzroy River. Let's show the WA Government they have our support in taking this stand against large-scale development in the Fitzroy Valley!
The river supports the livelihoods of local communities, culture, tourism, fishing, and rare wildlife such as the critically endangered freshwater sawfish - all of which would be seriously impacted by large-scale irrigation development.

Photo credit: Andrew Richards