I wonder if other peoples can appreciate the beauty of this as much as we can? The grey of the timber, the scuffle of the underbrush, the general air of a fertility that is not for farming. I find it adorable and would that it could last forever without being cleared. I guess this stand is saved because it is in a NP, but so much else has gone under the plough. Too much in my opinion. Dare I use the word sustainability? It is the same argument that I ran when you journeyed through the MIA during the summer. There are only so many resources and they must be used equitably and shared between cropping and the environment. I am keen to read that report on the M-D that is under wraps until after August 21. I imagine Abbott will have a different implementation from what Gillard may have chosen. A 60% decrease in water for irrigation does seem a lot. But the mouth of the Murray must flush again. It is an intractable issue.
Yes I often wonder whether the beauty translates too ... it doesn't have the same aesthetics as forests I have seen in other countries.
I just looked it up and 12% of Australia's land mass is protected ... which I think is not too bad on balance.
Regarding the 60% water decrease on the M-D that is not such a good number because most of it was "allocations" i.e. the right use rather than actual usage. My brains trust says that if everyone took up their allocation there would be no water left in Australia.
Have just been past the Darling again on my current wayfaring trip and looking forward to reporting it all (and visiting everyone's blogs again) soon.
The openness of these gum forests is a quite unique experience. The light through the leaves, combined with the whitish-grey trunks is very special. I like this picture.
You have made my night! I am sitting here catching up with Riff and trying to get organised for going to France. I thought you were out the back of Bourke, literally.
So who sold farmers these excessive Water Rights? The Federal Government I guess ... to placate them? I wonder. This sort of issue is too important to be left to politicians, or farmers or environmentalists, alone. It must be in cohort somehow. I shall wait for the report and read assessments on the presumption that the report itself will be too dense for this non-flexible brain.
I would like to hear the Brains-Trust's executive summary at some stage ...
We are literally back of Bourke but Mr Telstra provides good mobile internet coverage.
Regarding the water allocations they are under the ownership of the states not the federal government and were set back in the 1800s under Colonial water laws. Inter colony disputes were happening before federation with water transport, farmers, towns and individual colonies all wanting their share ... and we are still trying to figure it out with indigenous and environmental issues added through the transport issues has wained.
Yes, the element of States' Rights in water is very tedious. I rarely think as a SR person - and then only ironically. Well, one would, being from NSW!
See what I mean ...
But the water falls in QLD. How dare either NSW or that bloody SA demand their fair share. What's to share ... harumphf ...
A wonderful strand of gum trees. I do think Australian landscapes in general are an acquired taste though. You need to live in the landscape for awhile to truly appreciate it.
I wonder if other peoples can appreciate the beauty of this as much as we can? The grey of the timber, the scuffle of the underbrush, the general air of a fertility that is not for farming. I find it adorable and would that it could last forever without being cleared. I guess this stand is saved because it is in a NP, but so much else has gone under the plough. Too much in my opinion. Dare I use the word sustainability? It is the same argument that I ran when you journeyed through the MIA during the summer. There are only so many resources and they must be used equitably and shared between cropping and the environment. I am keen to read that report on the M-D that is under wraps until after August 21. I imagine Abbott will have a different implementation from what Gillard may have chosen. A 60% decrease in water for irrigation does seem a lot. But the mouth of the Murray must flush again. It is an intractable issue.
ReplyDeleteYes I often wonder whether the beauty translates too ... it doesn't have the same aesthetics as forests I have seen in other countries.
ReplyDeleteI just looked it up and 12% of Australia's land mass is protected ... which I think is not too bad on balance.
Regarding the 60% water decrease on the M-D that is not such a good number because most of it was "allocations" i.e. the right use rather than actual usage. My brains trust says that if everyone took up their allocation there would be no water left in Australia.
Have just been past the Darling again on my current wayfaring trip and looking forward to reporting it all (and visiting everyone's blogs again) soon.
I love the shape and colour of trees - they are amazing!
ReplyDeleteThe openness of these gum forests is a quite unique experience. The light through the leaves, combined with the whitish-grey trunks is very special. I like this picture.
ReplyDelete*guffaw* about seditious red hair!
ReplyDeleteYou have made my night! I am sitting here catching up with Riff and trying to get organised for going to France. I thought you were out the back of Bourke, literally.
Ah ... the right to use cf actual usage.
ReplyDeleteSo who sold farmers these excessive Water Rights? The Federal Government I guess ... to placate them? I wonder. This sort of issue is too important to be left to politicians, or farmers or environmentalists, alone. It must be in cohort somehow. I shall wait for the report and read assessments on the presumption that the report itself will be too dense for this non-flexible brain.
I would like to hear the Brains-Trust's executive summary at some stage ...
We are literally back of Bourke but Mr Telstra provides good mobile internet coverage.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the water allocations they are under the ownership of the states not the federal government and were set back in the 1800s under Colonial water laws. Inter colony disputes were happening before federation with water transport, farmers, towns and individual colonies all wanting their share ... and we are still trying to figure it out with indigenous and environmental issues added through the transport issues has wained.
The colour of these tree trunks is fantastic, pure grey!
ReplyDeleteYes, the element of States' Rights in water is very tedious. I rarely think as a SR person - and then only ironically. Well, one would, being from NSW!
ReplyDeleteSee what I mean ...
But the water falls in QLD. How dare either NSW or that bloody SA demand their fair share. What's to share ... harumphf ...
A wonderful strand of gum trees. I do think Australian landscapes in general are an acquired taste though. You need to live in the landscape for awhile to truly appreciate it.
ReplyDelete