Please let us know what you think about the issues surrounding the GAB, just leave a comment at the bottom of the page.
Great Artesian Basin- I remember I had read about it in 1991 as it was exactly 100 years ago in 1891 when the lower house of the parliament had passed a resolution/legislation to prevent water waste but unfortunately the upper house had rejected it. I had read about the geologist whose name started with G (Gregory?) who had emphasised that the water contained in the basin was of plutonic origin but the government had constituted a scientific board which made a report saying that recharge of water was possible through lateral seepage and this myth continues. I’m sure that the scientific community and the govt in Oz know that methane which comes out with the water clearly indicates that the water is from earth’s crust as methane could be dissolved in water at such high pressure only. I think it is unpardonable on the part of the government to keep repeating that water is being replenished. This is ethically wrong and is equivalent to keeping humanity in dark. Does govt understand that the natural gas reservoir is getting depleted too, at a very high rate?
I understand the enormity of irreparable damage and loss due to thousands of bore wells in the basin but I think the legislators look at the complicated aspects of it in practical terms. May be they are worried about the ‘ pressure groups’, I had read in political science which said that the pressure groups don’t make the part of the government but certainly affect the legislative process from outside. I think companies involved in oil, natural gas, irregation, metals, mining etc might be pressure groups.
Here in Rajasthan our artesian wells are already drying up, many village wells are completely dry.
This is a world-wide problem.
Dr. Naveen Pandey, Rajasthan, India.
Christine Townend -
The work you are doing is so important and I feel so grateful on behalf of all Australians that you are attempting to preserve this precious resource which the scientists tell us was laid down many epocs previously, and cannot be replaced once it is dried up.