Discover the CLLMM Research Centre's Community Advisory Forum (RCAF) and its impactful individuals. This month, we explore the motivations behind Richard Owen’s participation.
What does the CLLMM region mean to you?
I have lived in the CLLMM Region for almost 45 years, either right at the Murray Mouth or close to it along the Goolwa Channel below the Goolwa Barrages. Across that whole time I have been involved in environmental restoration work, particularly on Kumarangk Hindmarsh Island.
It was where my introduction into First Nations culture began, especially Ngarrindjeri culture, at the time of the Hindmarsh Island bridge fiasco.
I have seen the river in all its moods, drought and flood, seen the mouth close for the first time in recorded history, watched as the mouth shifted towards and away from Goolwa, seen and heard the dredging of the mouth to keep the tidal prism continue, all driven by the natural processes of river, ocean, wind and longshore drift.
I have watched as Western, materialist, culture stood by and allowed the processes of degradation to escalate across the CLLMM Region. I have seen all levels of government fail the river, through greed, pushing the river to its limits, through “sustainable diversion limits” and such like, understanding little, respecting nothing.
What do you think are the greatest issues facing the region in relation to climate change?
Disconnected landscapes prevent the adaptation of vegetation to changing climate conditions. We aim to reconnect landscapes to promote this adaptation occurring. This remains a huge problem across the CLLMM Region where, despite over 25 years of work, the proportion of land revegetated is still less than 10%.
Our methodologies of revegetation also work against this occurring, where revegetating by patchwork seems to be the modus operandi. Revegetation needs to occur continually with species richness improving at the same time. All opportunities must be taken to increase the size of areas being revegetated and reconnected. Farmers need to be encouraged to surrender land and this ought to be reconnected using roadsides, fence lines and other vacant land.
Predicted reduced freshwater flows in the MD Basin must mean that water extraction must reduce to maintain water availability in the MDB for the health of the river.
Rising sea levels here and locally will mean incursions of saline water will push further and further into the Lakes and upstream of Wellington.
Why did you want to join the Advisory Forum of the Research Centre and how do you think the CLLMM Research Centre (CLMM RC) can help the region?
One reason only, so that the local people who really care, could help inform the “experts” about future actions needing to be taken.
What do you hope for the future of the CLLMM region?
That local people’s knowledge and wisdom, like that of First Nations, will drive this centre’s work and that this will be understood to take a very long time to achieve. This region will be totally changed by climate change, probably far more than any other region in the MDB. The implications of this will be far reaching, affecting Adelaide and all other towns in this state dependent on the river for potable water in South Australia. We must reduce our reliance on the river for water and reduce growth.
Comments