Executive Summary

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The Snowy River Alliance which represents the voice of the Snowy River communities and other concerned Australians is bearing witness to the death of one of Australia's great rivers. The construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme (the Snowy Scheme) in the 1950s and 1960s with its accompanying regulations, stopped 99 per cent of the original flow at Jindabyne. This turned the Snowy River, a beautiful mountain river, into a series of stagnating pools and sent the river's ecology into a state of collapse. The Snowy River in many parts is now almost unrecognisable and has lost virtually all its previous environmental, social, cultural and economic value.

The historical beauty of the Snowy River with its cultural memories and legendary past have inspired the courage of both country and city folk to stand up against three governments in order that the Snowy River may live again. The injustice forced upon the Snowy River is sending waves even beyond our shores, with Japan and South East Asia believing it important enough to report it on television. National celebrities such as Tom Burlinson and Jack Thompson are putting their support behind the campaign as is the Sidney Myer Foundation. It is obvious that the Snowy River is still an important and desired part of our landscape and many Australians wish it to be more than a memory.

The monopolies that have developed for the use of Snowy River's water, the Snowy Scheme and the irrigation, have little regard for conservation and other community values including the interests of future generations. The gross negligence of past water allocation decisions for irrigation in the Murray or Murrumbidgee catchments, or the governments' economic expectations for the Snowy Scheme should not jeopardise now the future of the Snowy River. Nobody expected then the extent to which the damming was going to impact on our environment and other values, but we can see the damage now. River regulation began with the taking of an opportunistic advantage of natural resources but evolved into a massive exploitation.

Scientific studies recommend or suggest that approximately one-quarter of the original flow should be restored to the Snowy River at Jindabyne. This would promote significant improvements to the Snowy River, returning many of its previous values. The Snowy River Alliance supports this recommendation. Any political decision that attempts to trade down the experts' recommendations would be short-sighted, ignorant, and an act of deliberate vandalism. Environmental decisions are not decided by 'trade-offs' nor by using the word 'balance' in rhetorical comment. Instead, consumptive use needs to be constrained by the natural laws of nature, which will not change to suit anyone's balance sheet.

The Snowy Water Inquiry and corporatisation of the Snowy Scheme is a once in a lifetime chance for the Snowy River. The restoration of the Snowy River to a river which Australians can have pride in represents a maturing of our society and will be one of the most valuable moments in our history. The people and governments that stand to pass judgement cannot underestimate the importance and longevity of the impacts of this decision.