Landclearing
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The Daly River is an Australian icon worth saving.
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Its headwaters lie in the
World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park and the spectacular Katherine
Gorge. For over 500km's the Daly and its tributaries flow through
a network of intact wetlands, billabongs and floodplains - to its
mouth in the Timor Sea.
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The
Daly River catchment is covered in vast stands of forests and
woodlands, still rich in native wildlife. The Daly maintains
strong river flows during the long dry season – giving
it a number of special qualities not found in any other Top End
rivers.
The Daly River is one of Australia's premier Barramundi
fishing destinations. Each year tens of thousands of interstate
and international tourists visit the Daly River – providing
economic growth to the region.
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Unfortunately, the Daly
River region has been targeted for large-scale irrigation schemes.
If the proposals go ahead the vast forests and woodlands will be
cleared and billions more litres of water will be pumped from the
Daly River every year. |
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Large scale treeclearing in the Daly River catchment 2002
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If large-scale irrigated agriculture
and large-scale treeclearing go ahead the Daly River will end
up devastated like the Murray River in southeastern Australia.
Water levels in the river will drop, soil erosion will silt up
the river channel and the Daly's abundant native wildlife will
be lost.
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The Daly is home to the Traditional
Owners and a number of Aboriginal communities who have a strong
connection to the river. Mr John Daly, a Traditional Owner from
the Daly River and the Deputy Chairman of the Northern Land Council
has stated: "We don't want another Murray. They are not looking
at the environment and our culture – they are only thinking of
the dollar value." (The Age September 15 2003)
Turtles © Louise Pandella, Merrepen Arts 2003.
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The Daly is recognised
Australia wide as a high quality recreational fishing river. Barramundi,
the prized sportfish are abundant in the Daly and each year two national
fishing tournaments are held on the river. Mr John Harrison, the
Executive Officer of the Amateur Fishermen's Association of the Northern
Territory has affirmed that the Daly River; ". is a jewel in the
Northern Territory crown and we need to protect and cherish its qualities."
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MORE
INFORMATION |
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For more information contact:
Charles Roche - Freshwater Campaigner
The Environment Centre NT
PO Box 2120 Darwin NT 0801
Phone: 08 8941 7439 or 08 8981 1984
Email: ecntdaly@iinet.net.au
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 PDF
Downloads:
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10 August 2006
'Securing the Long-term Protection of the Daly River: options for conservation and appropriate development in the Daly River Catchment, NT' (PDF 586KB). An important discussion about options for the conservation and appropriate development of the Daly River. |
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Daly Briefing Paper (Feburary
2003)
To read the full article click
here
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Fish Need Water Too! (5 August 2003)
John Harrison, Executive Officer
Amateur Fishermen's Association of the Northern Territory Inc.
Murray, Eastern and Trout
cod in danger of extinction with the Murray cod just recently
listed as vulnerable. Why? To read the full article click
here
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Top End's Fragile Balance on Brink (September
15 2003)
David Hancock,
The Age
Daly River under
threat from broadscale tree clearing and large irrigation schemes,
according to Aboriginal and environmental groups. To read the
full article click
here
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Daly River Under Threat (
6 August 2003)
Northern Land Council
Aboriginal landowners concerned that a NT
Government decision to allow the clearing of 7,000 hectares of
land in the Upper Daly region will spell disaster on a broad
scale.To read the full article click
here
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Daly consultations welcome, but more
time needed ( 21 November 2003)
Northern Land Council
Traditional owners
in the Douglas/Daly Region have welcomed Chief Minister Clare
Martin's intervention in the debate over plans to develop the
region, but remain concerned over the short timeframe allotted
for the development of a draft Integrated Regional Land Use Plan.To
read the full article click
here
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Useful Links:
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Northern
Land Council
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See also: Land Clearing
Media Releases
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Major
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