A National Local Government Salinity Summit will be held in Moama-Echuca on 17,18 and 19 July 2001 to identify practical solutions to the impact of salinity on roads, buildings, services, water quality, land use and the general community.
The Murray Darling Association, with the support of the Australian Local Government Association, Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia and Sinclair Knight Merz, is organising the Summit.
Issues to be raised are of vital importance to Local Government elected members and staff, catchment management organisations, State and Federal Government agencies, Landcare and community facilitators.
“Salinity is a damaging problem that is reaching crisis point in many parts of Australia,” said Murray Darling Association President, Councillor Brian Sharp. “The productivity of the nation is at stake, as well as the welfare of future generations.
“Because of the seriousness of the salinity problem, Local Government is being called upon to increase its involvement in natural resource management and salinity management.”
The Murray Darling Association believes that a partnership between catchment organisations and Local Government will be necessary to maximise local and regional capacity and efforts to combat the salinity problem.
Issues to be considered during the Summit include managing infrastructure, salinity mapping, policy development, planning and landuse, funding, biodiversity, devolution, revegetation and capacity building.
Councillor Sharp said all Councils in Australia have received a copy of the Summit brochure.
Anyone seeking more information on the Summit should contact the Murray Darling Association at PO Box 89 Rundle Mall, Adelaide, SA 5000.
