Send a message to the new ministers!

SEND A MESSAGE TO WELCOME THE NEW MINISTERS!

Let the new Water Minister, Agriculture Minister and Regional Development Minister know how important a healthy, free-flowing Martuwarra is and why the river must be protected.

Congratulations on your recent appointment to your new portfolio and to your role in the Fitzroy River Ministerial Council. 
The National Heritage Listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River and its floodplains are of outstanding environmental and cultural value. It is an inseparable and fundamental part of culture, Country and identity for Kimberley Traditional Owners and holds a special place for the community, who rely on it for their livelihoods, fishing, tourism, and recreation. 
In early January, the Fitzroy Valley and surrounding communities experienced the worst floods in WA history, causing widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and the community, and leaving thousands displaced from their homes and Country.
Following this catastrophic flood event, it is more important than ever to listen to local communities about their needs and what they want for the future of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River. The floods have also raised important questions over the dangers of building irrigation infrastructure and barriers on the floodplains, that would likely have been heavily damaged and could have caused wider flooding and exacerbated the impacts. 
In your 2017 election commitment, the McGowan Government promised to protect the Martuwarra Fitzroy River. Now, in the rebuilding phase of the Fitzroy Valley, is the chance to plan for a sustainable future for the Martuwarra and act to protect its outstanding National Heritage values.
The Kimberley community, particularly Traditional Owner groups, have never consented to water extraction from the Martuwarra and have repeatedly urged government to invest in sustainable development that will create culturally appropriate jobs for Aboriginal people on Country and protect the river, and floodplains.
In 2021 more than 43,000 Australians, including 11,000 Western Australians and 1100 people from the Kimberley, wrote submissions to the WA Government in response to the Draft Fitzroy River Water Discussion Paper, calling for all plans to take water from the Martuwarra for irrigation to be stopped and for the river to be protected.
The immediate priority is the flood clean up and the welfare of people in the community. However, as planning begins for rebuilding, I urge you to listen to Traditional Owners and the local community. I urge you to hear their vision for the Fitzroy Valley and plans for potential industries that benefit a sustainable economy and local people.
I am urging you Minister, as a member of the Fitzroy River Ministerial Council, to protect the Martuwarra Fitzroy River and reject any plans for taking water from the river or its floodplains for irrigated agriculture.

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Congratulations on your recent appointment to your new portfolio and to your role in the Fitzroy River Ministerial Council.

The National Heritage Listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River and its floodplains are of outstanding environmental and cultural value. It is an inseparable and fundamental part of culture, Country and identity for Kimberley Traditional Owners and holds a special place for the community, who rely on it for their livelihoods, fishing, tourism, and recreation.

In early January, the Fitzroy Valley and surrounding communities experienced the worst floods in WA history, causing widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and the community, and leaving thousands displaced from their homes and Country.

Following this catastrophic flood event, it is more important than ever to listen to local communities about their needs and what they want for the future of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River. The floods have also raised important questions over the dangers of building irrigation infrastructure and barriers on the floodplains, that would likely have been heavily damaged and could have caused wider flooding and exacerbated the impacts.

In your 2017 election commitment, the McGowan Government promised to protect the Martuwarra Fitzroy River. Now, in the rebuilding phase of the Fitzroy Valley, is the chance to plan for a sustainable future for the Martuwarra and act to protect its outstanding National Heritage values.

The Kimberley community, particularly Traditional Owner groups, have never consented to water extraction from the Martuwarra and have repeatedly urged government to invest in sustainable development that will create culturally appropriate jobs for Aboriginal people on Country and protect the river, and floodplains.

In 2021 more than 43,000 Australians, including 11,000 Western Australians and 1100 people from the Kimberley, wrote submissions to the WA Government in response to the Draft Fitzroy River Water Discussion Paper, calling for all plans to take water from the Martuwarra for irrigation to be stopped and for the river to be protected.

The immediate priority is the flood clean up and the welfare of people in the community. However, as planning begins for rebuilding, I urge you to listen to Traditional Owners and the local community. I urge you to hear their vision for the Fitzroy Valley and plans for potential industries that benefit a sustainable economy and local people.

I am urging you Minister, as a member of the Fitzroy River Ministerial Council, to protect the Martuwarra Fitzroy River and reject any plans for taking water from the river or its floodplains for irrigated agriculture.

In the wake of the worst floods in WA history, it’s crucial that decision makers hear why the Martuwarra Fitzroy River needs protecting.

Minister McGurk, Minister Jarvis and Minister Punch have taken on new portfolios that will help decide the fate of the Martuwarra following the devastating Fitzroy Valley floods, and whether the river will be protected or opened up to damaging large-scale irrigation developments.

Why you should take action to protect the Martuwarra:

Following January's catastrophic flood event, it is more important than ever to listen to local communities about their needs and what they want for the future of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River.
In their 2017 election commitment, the McGowan Government promised to protect the Martuwarra Fitzroy River. Now, as the WA Government focuses on the flood recovery, is the chance for government to work alongside local communities and Traditional Owners to create sustainable economic development compatible with the Martuwarra’s natural and cultural values.
The Martuwarra Fitzroy River supports the livelihoods of local people, culture, tourism, fishing, and rare wildlife such as the critically endangered freshwater sawfish - all of which would be significantly impacted by large-scale irrigation development.
Traditional Owner groups along the Martuwarra have not consented to water being taken from the river for irrigation developments. They have urged government to invest in sustainable development that will create culturally appropriate jobs for Aboriginal people on Country that won't harm the river.

Image credit: Josh Schroeder