It is interesting to read all the references about halting cotton & rice growing. Viticulture, fruit blocks onion & potato farms etc. all in South Australia are not seen as a drain on our water resources, nor is flood irrigation of pastureland. We grew the best grapes in Australia in the Barossa, but now the (mainly) multinationals have constructed huge dams filled with water pumped from the Murray. Will the salt content of this water be our next disaster in 50 years. and remember the furor when the Olsen Govt. allowed the massive pipes & pumps to be installed at Nildottie to supply market gardeners in that area.

Lets face it, We are all to blame & it will take all of us to fix the problem.

Moving water from one area to another is not the answer.
Our entire Northern  and Eastern coral coast is reliant upon the nutrients in these flows to grow & flourish. Stop trying to change nature.

If a major problem is evaporation. Lets put our collective thinking caps on & try to deliver water to Adelaide evaporation free.

Just a thought starter:     Imagine a pipeline from the Hume Reservoir to Mannum, laid in the River Murray riverbed all the way to save excavation costs. This pipeline would be pressurized by the well head pressure at the Hume, saving power & greenhouse gas emissions etc. while delivering pure drinking water from the Australian Alps to Adelaides consumers.
As stated, this is just a "what if" and is probably not feasible, but lets hear more ideas.
Our motto "DON'T CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT TO SUIT YOURSELF, CHANGE YOURSELF TO SUIT THE ENVIRONMENT".

Captain David Bean
Editor clubmurray.com.au

DON'T CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT TO SUIT YOURSELF,
    CHANGE YOURSELF TO SUIT THE ENVIRONMENT".
SAVE THE MURRAY TOWNS
email admin@clubmurray.com.au for FREE MEMBERSHIP OR TO CONTRIBUTE
This is a great idea . How did you come up with such a simple solution.
Sean
Don't want to disappoint you Sean but the idea occurred with two mates,  a BBQ and a bottleof red.
I think the bottle of red contributed most..
Ed
DON'T WORRY ABOUT SAVING THE MURRAY, SAVE THE MURRAY TOWNS.

PROBLEMS FACING THE RIVER SEEM TO BE CLIMATE CHANGE AND DROUGHT.
AFTER SPENDING MANY HOURS AT TALK FESTS, COMMUNITY FORUMS GOVERNMENT BRIEFINGS AND ATTENDING VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS IT SEEMS WE MAY BE IN DANGER OF TALKING OURSELVES TO DEATH.
LETS DO SOMETHING.
THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM IS THE IMMENENT COLLAPSE OF INDUSTRY THROUGHOUT THE  RIVERLANDS / MURRAYLANDS COMMUNITIES, AND THE SUBSEQUENT COLLAPSE OF OUR RIVER TOWNS.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THESE COMMUNITIES SURVIVE UNTIL THE SITUATION IS ALLEVIATED.
IF THE RIVER TOWNS DIE THE IMPACT ON THE AUSTRALIA ECONOMY WILL BE AS DEVASTATING AS THE 1929 DEPRESSION. WE CANNOT CHANGE THE DROUGHT BUT WE CAN DO A LOT TO GET OUR COUNTRY FOLK THROUGH ANOTHER YEAR.
THE LAST PROMOTION OF THE MURRAY WAS ABOUT  HOUSEBOATING, DEPICTING CAREFREE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE STILL AVAILABLE. THIS WAS AN ENDEAVOUR TO PROVE THE RIVER WAS STILL VIBRANT…..
WRONG MESSAGE.
THESE COMMERCIALS WERE SEEN AS  "FEEL GOOD" INDUSTRY ADS AND DID NOTHING TO ENGENDER THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THE RIVER TOWNS NEED.
IF THE TOWNS DIE, THE ENTIRE MURRAY VALLEY MAY NEVER RECOVER.
ADELAIDE THIS IS YOUR FOOD CHAIN.
LET'S CONSIDER AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN THAT GETS THE REAL MESSAGE HOME.
THE PRESENTERS SHOULD BE THE TOWN MAYORS & CEOs, LARGE INDUSTRIES, SMALL BUSSINESSES, FARMERS, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.
THE TARGET SHOULD BE THE ADELAIDE PUBLIC, WHO, BY CHANGING A FEW PLANS THIS SUMMER AND HOLIDAYING ALONG THE RIVER COULD HELP TO GENERATE ENOUGH INCOME FOR BERRI, RENMARK, LOXTON WAIKERIE, BLANCHTOWN, MANNUM, MURRAY BRIDGE AND GOOLWA TO LIVE ANOTHER YEAR.
ADELAIDE HOLIDAY MAKERS  SHOULD  SEE THIS AS THEIR STATUS SYMBOL, BETTER THAN  ANOTHER OVERSEAS JUNKET.
THERE IS NO RELIEF IN SIGHT AND THE COST OF LOSING OUR TOWNS COULD BE IN THE BILLIONS.
A WORTHWHILE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN OF THIS MAGNITUDE WOULD  COST MILLIONS, BUT I'M SURE THAT THE TOWNS AND THE  GOVERNMENT OF SA  WOULD BE POSITIVELY SUPPORTED BY ALL MAJOR MEDIA OUTLETS.


SAVE THE JOBS AND SURVIVE. THE JOB YOU HELP SAVE MIGHT TURN OUT TO BE YOURS.


CAPTAIN DAVID BEAN
Ph 0407395385


THE EDITOR
THE ADVERTISER

I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF AN ITEM PREVIOUSLY SENT TO "LETTERS TO THE ED".

THIS CONCEPT CAN ONLY WORK IF IT IS UP & RUNNING BY MID OCTOBER, AND IT IS OBVIOUS FROM TODAYS ARTICLE ON PAGE 30 THAT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IS ALSO GETTING BOGGED DOWN IN TALKS.

CONCEPT

CREATE INCOME FOR THE RIVER TOWNS.

BY PROMOTING TO THE CONCIENCE OF THE SA PUBLIC THAT:
BY SPENDING THEIR RECREATION DOLLARS IN THE MURRAY AREA THEY COULD HELP THE AREAS SURVIVAL FOR A FURTHER 12 MONTHS (CREATING TIME).

MAKE  IT A STATUS SYMBOL TO HOLIDAY ALONG THE RIVER THIS SEASON INSTEAD OF HEADING INTERSTATE & OVERSEAS.

ADELAIDE COACH COMPANIES WOULD CARRY TOURS (SOME MAY EVEN STAY OVERNIGHT" ON SPECIAL "VISIT THE RIVER AND SEE THE DEVASTATION CAUSED BY THE DROUGHT" TOURS. COACH OPERATORS ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING NEW TOUR VENUES).

USE NORMAL ACCOMMODATION & "FUN" ACCOMMADTION SUCH AS BACKPACKER VENUES.

LOCAL BUS OPERATORS COULD CARRY TRAVELLERS TO VISIT PLACES OF SPECIFIC INTEREST. (AS PER MONARTO ZOO STYLE).

GET THE SA EDUCATION SYSTEM INVOLVED.

BREAKFAST, LUNCH &DINNER AT SELECTED FARMS & ORCHARDS WOULD CREATE EMPLOYMENT.

BUY LOCAL ORANGES, GRAPES, IN FACT ANY LOCAL PRODUCE TO TAKE HOME.

SPECIAL "PASSPORTS" STAMPED AT TOWNS VISITED ALONG THE RIVER WOULD CREATE INTEREST AND BECOME COLLECTORS ITEMS.

PLAY ONE GOLF HOLE FOR FREE AT 18 SELECTED COURSES. WINNERS PRIZES.

THERE ARE TOO MANY PROMOTIONAL IDEAS TO LIST THEM ALL, BUT THE CHALLENGE COULD BE EASILY PUT TO THE PUBLIC, AND THE REWARD ENORMOUS FOR THE STATE

I AM TRYING TO GET INTEREST IN A MEETING OF ALL MAYORS, CEOs, POLITITIANS,  TOURIST OPERATORS AND MEDIA.TO EXPLORE ANY MERIT IN THIS PROPOSAL.

YOUR "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" PAGE IS PROBABLY THE MOST WELL READ &  SIGNIFICANT AVENUE  TO GAIN THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST.







ACTION

WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS & DIGNATERIES .E.g  MARK RICCUITO.

SEEK THE ASSISTANCE OF ROGER QUINCEY.(CHAIRMAN SA COACH ASSOC.). TO PREVAIL UPON COACH COMPANIES TO FOCUS ON THE RIVER COMMUNITIES.

THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION MUST USE HER OFFICE TO DISSUADE SCHOOLS FROM THE PRACTICE OF STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN INTERSTATE AND EXPENSIVE "SKI JUNKETS", IN FAVOUR OF EDUCATIONAL STUDENT EXCURSIONS TO THE RIVER TOWNS. SA GOV SHOULD HEAVILY SUBSIDISE THIS EXCERSISE.

ESTABLISH ALTERNATE ACCOMMODATION SUCH AS BACK PACKER HOSTELS. A GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE HARVEST TRAIL LODGE IN LOXTON, WITH FOUR TO A ROOM THEY CAN SLEEP ABOUT 80. ( ref DES WARNER 85311499)

MOBILISE LOCAL PRODUCERS AND FARMERS FOR B&B LUNCHEONS ETC.

ORGANIZE GOLF CLUBS TO ACCEPT TOURIST WANTING TO PLAY A SPECIFICALLY  SELECTED HOLE ON THE "EXTENDED" COURSE.

RIVERLAND PASSPORTS

FISHING CONTESTS


REGARDS
CAPTAIN DAVID BEAN
0407395385

Probably worth a try. at least its something. I would add prizes to the idea.
eg golf tickets to the sa open, travel passes, discount vouchers.  
Tony
I have a daughter doing year 11 at one of our local private schools. I am expected to pay $500 for her to go to Canberra when they could learn a lot in their own backyard,
Liza

WE THINK THAT THE SA EDUCATION DEPT COULD BE DOING A LOT MORE TOO.  
ED.
I bet the education dept isnt going to support us    jb
I'M NOT TOO SURE. THE MINISTER JANE LOMAX-SMITH HAS ALWAYS APPEARED TO BE A GOOD SOUTH AUSTRALIAN AND ABOVE POLITICS.
WE'LL ASK HER IF SHE CAN DIRECT SCHOOL CURRICULEM TOWARDS STUDYING THE MURRAY AS A PRIORITY.
ED
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