Media Release
May 24, 2004
Water expert leads SA on journey to water sustainability
South Australia needs to face up to the issue of water scarcity in
the coming years and take action now according to Adelaide Thinker in
Residence and leading expert on river health and ecology, Professor
Peter Cullen.
Prof Cullen says the likelihood of declining rainfall and increasing
salinity in the Murray together with the Government’s proposal to
increase population to 2 million means Adelaide is already facing a
significant squeeze on its water resources.
Prof Cullen will put forward his ten-step journey to water
sustainability in his free public lecture Making Waves: Water Challenges
for Adelaide in the 21st Century, jointly presented by Adelaide Thinkers
in Residence and UniSA’s Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, on Tuesday
25 May, 6.00pm, Adelaide Town Hall.
“The squeeze on scarce water resources is going to force the community
to rethink how it uses water, and to explore alternative sources of
water,” said Prof Cullen.
Water recycling, use of urban stormwater and desalination are some of
the possible strategies that Prof Cullen will explore.
“South Australia needs to consider ways to reduce the demand for water
by introducing demand management tools. We need to find opportunities to
save water in irrigation areas and to start managing groundwater more
effectively.
“But the threat to Adelaide’s water security also provides
opportunities. I’d beg the questions, Does South Australia dare to
embrace world’s best practice in managing urban and rural waters? Can it
show national leadership and show upstream States how to live with our
country rather than trying to subdue it?”
“South Australia has the opportunity to become a smart State and lead
others in the water revolution.”
Bookings Essential - online at
www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au or (08) 8302 0215
Media contact
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Joanna Hughes, Adelaide Thinkers in Residence, 0423 025 787 or 8226 4090
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Geraldine Hinter, UniSA, 8302 0963 or 0417 861 832