More Water

Water is much on our minds in this party of the world, and not just because it rained heavily on our metal roof all night. Many of Australia’s major cities are still drifting toward a crisis as supplies diminish in the face of the country’s longest drought, thoughtless development, political inertia, and a political reluctance to stop people doing exactly what they want, which includes watering their lawns and washing their cars.

Most of rural New South Wales is in a worse state, residents worrying not so much about washing the dust off their SUVs, but about feeding their cattle and trying to grow their crops. Lawns? There’s no grass left in many places.

In and around Coffs Harbour, we can afford to feel smug because of climate, topography and the foresight of the local council, which has a nice, full reservoir up in the hills, topped up with supplies from local rivers, and has invested in water recycling.

In fact, one of the estate agents in town reports that the most frequently offered reason for moving here is a secure water supply. I feel it’s time we started keeping quiet about it.

Remember the UK’s short-lived Drought Minister? Well, no sooner had the Government unveiled its plan to save one of the country’s major river systems, the Murray-Darling, and the farmers that depend on it, than it started raining, not enough to solve the problem, but enough to make some think that the tide may have turned.

Drought is inseparable from the global warming debate, which has now made it to the top of the political agenda, though internationally, Australia has something of a bit part. If the country was shut down – power turned off, traffic stopped, no flights etc – then China would make up for the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in a mere eight months. However, there’s a strong feeling that because Australians are the highest per capita emitters, we have a moral duty to do more.

I find this comforting, and hope that the high moral tone continues when the taps run dry in Sydney and Adelaide. But don’t count on it.