This week, we're taking you back to the Northern Territory with an interview with one of the Traditional Owners who made the 4,000 KM trek from Darwin to Canberra in September. The delegation of Traditional Owners and environmentalists went to the capital to call on the Federal government to step in and halt the agricultural projects that threaten water-dependent ecosystems. 

In this episode we speak to Cecilia Lake, a Mangarrayi Traditional Owner from Jilkminggan, a community of 300 people on the Roper River, east of Mataranka, where her Country is well renowned for its pristine waterholes and palm forests.

Cecilia attended the delegation in Canberra and is fighting to have her voice heard on the water issues facing her country, particularly the groundwater springs that feed the Roper River during the dry season. According to Cecilia, changes in local agricultural activity that extract groundwater for irrigation are already impacting her sacred springs, threatening the future of her Country and her community.

This week, we're taking you back to the Northern Territory with an interview with one of the Traditional Owners who made the 4,000 KM trek from Darwin to Canberra in September. The delegation of Traditional Owners and environmentalists went to the capital to call on the Federal government to step in and halt the agricultural projects that threaten water-dependent ecosystems. 
In this episode we speak to Cecilia Lake, a Mangarrayi Traditional Owner from Jilkminggan, a community of 300 people on the Roper River, east of Mataranka, where her Country is well renowned for its pristine waterholes and palm forests.
Cecilia attended the delegation in Canberra and is fighting to have her voice heard on the water issues facing her country, particularly the groundwater springs that feed the Roper River during the dry season. According to Cecilia, changes in local agricultural activity that extract groundwater for irrigation are already impacting her sacred springs, threatening the future of her Country and her community.

Episode 83: Fighting for a voice in the NT

Today you’re going to hear from a well read, and well written academic on water issues. Professor Quentin Grafton recently published a book, and the launch of the book was accompanied with an address to the National Press Club and an article in the Conversation. The description of the book proclaims:   

It’s high time to call out the mistruths and post truths and retell Australia’s Water story, In this book Quentin Grafton explains how, from 1788 onwards, those in power have treated fresh water as a resource to be exploited, rather than cared for. 

And to quote the book, 

“Retelling Australia’s Water Story is more than a history lesson, or a list of what has gone wrong. Its a wake up call to fix what is broken, to listen to the voices seldom heard, and to begin a journey towards a just and sustainable water future for all.”    

Author Professor Quentin Grafton has many accolades to his name including chair of the UNSECO Chair in Water Economics and Transboundary Water Governance, An Australian Laureate fellow at the Australian National University, a Distinguished Fellow at the Australasian Agricultural and Resource economics Society, a recipient of many awards, and he established the Water Justice Hub.

Today you’re going to hear from a well read, and well written academic on water issues. Professor Quentin Grafton recently published a book, and the launch of the book was accompanied with an address to the National Press Club and an article in the Conversation. The description of the book proclaims:   
It’s high time to call out the mistruths and post truths and retell Australia’s Water story, In this book Quentin Grafton explains how, from 1788 onwards, those in power have treated fresh water as a resource to be exploited, rather than cared for. 
And to quote the book, 
“Retelling Australia’s Water Story is more than a history lesson, or a list of what has gone wrong. Its a wake up call to fix what is broken, to listen to the voices seldom heard, and to begin a journey towards a just and sustainable water future for all.”    
Author Professor Quentin Grafton has many accolades to his name including chair of the UNSECO Chair in Water Economics and Transboundary Water Governance, An Australian Laureate fellow at the Australian National University, a Distinguished Fellow at the Australasian Agricultural and Resource economics Society, a recipient of many awards, and he established the Water Justice Hub.

Episode 82: Retelling Australia's Water Story w/ Professor Quentin Grafton

This week Water Watch looks back to a presentation by Dr Josie Douglas, the General Manager of the Central Land Council speaking at the Fresh Water Futures Panel at the Environment Centre NT State of Environment Conference in September 2023. 

With thanks to the PEW Charitable Trust for accessing conference audio and organising the Fresh Water Futures Panel.

Watch Watch is produced by Broken Hill Community radio 2DRY. 

Watch Watch is produced by Broken Hill Community radio 2DRY. 

This week Water Watch looks back to a presentation by Dr Josie Douglas, the General Manager of the Central Land Council speaking at the Fresh Water Futures Panel at the Environment Centre NT State of Environment Conference in September 2023. 
With thanks to the PEW Charitable Trust for accessing conference audio and organising the Fresh Water Futures Panel.
Watch Watch is produced by Broken Hill Community radio 2DRY. 
Watch Watch is produced by Broken Hill Community radio 2DRY.

Encore: Water Rights the New Land Rights

This week we have a bit of arts and culture respite, but that's not to say its not going to get political!

It was our great privilege this week to interview an artist we've been following for a very long time, Murrawarri, Philipino rapper and drummer, Rhyan Claphem, who calls himself DOBBY. DOBBY has just released his debut album Warrangu, river story and it is all about the great beauty and tragedy of the Murray-Darling Basin, from the perspective of his ancestral connection to the waters of the Barwon River and the community of Brewarrina and surrounding areas. 

This album is not just a collection of songs, it is a sonic journey and a research project, as Rhyan journeyed out to his ancestral homelands during 2019, to explore the consequences of drought and extractive practices on the land, animals, people and community.

To listen to the album or purchase your very own copy, please visit www.dobby.com.au

You can follow DOBBY on Instagram DOBBY (@dobbyau) • Instagram photos and videos

This week we have a bit of arts and culture respite, but that's not to say its not going to get political!
It was our great privilege this week to interview an artist we've been following for a very long time, Murrawarri, Philipino rapper and drummer, Rhyan Claphem, who calls himself DOBBY. DOBBY has just released his debut album Warrangu, river story and it is all about the great beauty and tragedy of the Murray-Darling Basin, from the perspective of his ancestral connection to the waters of the Barwon River and the community of Brewarrina and surrounding areas. 
This album is not just a collection of songs, it is a sonic journey and a research project, as Rhyan journeyed out to his ancestral homelands during 2019, to explore the consequences of drought and extractive practices on the land, animals, people and community.
To listen to the album or purchase your very own copy, please visit <a href="http://www.dobby.com.au">www.dobby.com.au</a>
You can follow DOBBY on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dobbyau/">DOBBY (@dobbyau) • Instagram photos and videos</a>

ENCORE: DOBBY - Warrangu, River Story

With things heating up in the Murray-Darling Basin regarding the Basin Plan, we’re continuing to cover Basin politics with a fascinating interview with Richard Beasley who was Senior Counsel assisting to the South Australian Royal Commission into the Murray-Darling Basin Back in 2018.

In a thorough investigation in 2018, the Royal Commission found that the Basin Plan was illegal, not just on the basis of a misreading of the Water Act but also that Murray-Darling Basin Authority had engaged in maladministration, acted with negligence, fostered scientific censorship and engaged in decision making that was incomprehensible and indefensible.

In 2021, Richard Beasley published a book, Dead in the Water, which presented the findings of the Royal Commission in a way that everyone can understand. This week we jump right into the deep end with Richard to remind us about the extraordinarily convoluted and flawed process that has been the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

With things heating up in the Murray-Darling Basin regarding the Basin Plan, we’re continuing to cover Basin politics with a fascinating interview with Richard Beasley who was Senior Counsel assisting to the South Australian Royal Commission into the Murray-Darling Basin Back in 2018.
In a thorough investigation in 2018, the Royal Commission found that the Basin Plan was illegal, not just on the basis of a misreading of the Water Act but also that Murray-Darling Basin Authority had engaged in maladministration, acted with negligence, fostered scientific censorship and engaged in decision making that was incomprehensible and indefensible.
In 2021, Richard Beasley published a book, Dead in the Water, which presented the findings of the Royal Commission in a way that everyone can understand. This week we jump right into the deep end with Richard to remind us about the extraordinarily convoluted and flawed process that has been the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

ENCORE: "A Total Fraud on the Environment" with Richard Beasley SC 

This week we are delving into a topic that we haven’t yet covered on water watch, but it has been in the media recently and there is growing awareness of its significance. In this episode we are talking about the chemicals commonly known as PFAS or ‘forever chemicals.’

PFAS are a class of almost 15,000 synthetic chemicals which are harmful to human and animal health, causing an array of serious illnesses. They were developed for industrial purposes, such as in firefighting foams, pesticides, building materials and electronics, but they’ve also been used in a large number of household and personal care products.

These include carpets, rugs, furniture, bedding, upholstery, cookware, food packaging, cleaning products, toilet paper, cosmetics, tampons, sanitary pads, dental floss, contact lenses, clothing, rain coats and shoes.

These chemicals are everywhere.

They are very resistance heat, stains, grease and water, and they do not breakdown, hence the name ‘forever chemicals.’

In the last few weeks, the Sydney Morning Herald have broken a story about potentially unsafe levels of these chemicals found in the Blue Mountains water supply, an hour and a half west of Sydney, and locals in the area are concerned about the effects that PFAS contamination might have on their health and the health of their children. In this episode we talk to Associate Professor Ian Wright from Western Sydney Uni who has been involved in the Herald's investigation, and we’ll be discussing this issue and what it means for communities and our water agencies as we embark upon more testing for these chemicals in Australian rivers.

This week we are delving into a topic that we haven’t yet covered on water watch, but it has been in the media recently and there is growing awareness of its significance. In this episode we are talking about the chemicals commonly known as PFAS or ‘forever chemicals.’
PFAS are a class of almost 15,000 synthetic chemicals which are harmful to human and animal health, causing an array of serious illnesses. They were developed for industrial purposes, such as in firefighting foams, pesticides, building materials and electronics, but they’ve also been used in a large number of household and personal care products.
These include carpets, rugs, furniture, bedding, upholstery, cookware, food packaging, cleaning products, toilet paper, cosmetics, tampons, sanitary pads, dental floss, contact lenses, clothing, rain coats and shoes.
These chemicals are everywhere.
They are very resistance heat, stains, grease and water, and they do not breakdown, hence the name ‘forever chemicals.’
In the last few weeks, the Sydney Morning Herald have broken a story about potentially unsafe levels of these chemicals found in the Blue Mountains water supply, an hour and a half west of Sydney, and locals in the area are concerned about the effects that PFAS contamination might have on their health and the health of their children. In this episode we talk to Associate Professor Ian Wright from Western Sydney Uni who has been involved in the Herald's investigation, and we’ll be discussing this issue and what it means for communities and our water agencies as we embark upon more testing for these chemicals in Australian rivers.

Episode 81: PFAS contamination in Blue Mountains water supply

This week we’re heading to the Top End, where mismanagement of an expanding irrigation industry in the NT hit the national spotlight when ABC 4 Corner published “Water Grab” last month. The ABC 4 Corners program revealed the NT’s lax environmental laws, and failures to adequately regulate a burgeoning irrigation industry in the NT. The program exposed a territory government that is single-mindedly focused on economic development from large-scale irrigation and gas extraction, while recent changes to land use are already impacting the water quality of some groundwater sources, like at Mataranka, where freshwater springs are crucial sources of water for the Roper River, which relies on groundwater flows during the dry season, and are highly sacred sites for Mangarrayi people.

Following the 4 corners investigation, a delegation of environmental groups was joined by Mangarrayi Traditional Owners in Canberra to raise the alarm of these proposed developments with the federal government. The delegation hoped the Federal government would intervene on behalf of the concerned community and act to protect some of Australia’s last wild rivers.

In this episode Megan speaks to Kirsty Howey, the executive director of the Environment Centre NT about the delegation to Canberra, who they met with, the goals of this trip, and the state of play for water management in the territory.  

This week we’re heading to the Top End, where mismanagement of an expanding irrigation industry in the NT hit the national spotlight when ABC 4 Corner published “Water Grab” last month. The ABC 4 Corners program revealed the NT’s lax environmental laws, and failures to adequately regulate a burgeoning irrigation industry in the NT. The program exposed a territory government that is single-mindedly focused on economic development from large-scale irrigation and gas extraction, while recent changes to land use are already impacting the water quality of some groundwater sources, like at Mataranka, where freshwater springs are crucial sources of water for the Roper River, which relies on groundwater flows during the dry season, and are highly sacred sites for Mangarrayi people.
Following the 4 corners investigation, a delegation of environmental groups was joined by Mangarrayi Traditional Owners in Canberra to raise the alarm of these proposed developments with the federal government. The delegation hoped the Federal government would intervene on behalf of the concerned community and act to protect some of Australia’s last wild rivers.
In this episode Megan speaks to Kirsty Howey, the executive director of the Environment Centre NT about the delegation to Canberra, who they met with, the goals of this trip, and the state of play for water management in the territory.

Episode 80: NT's regulatory failures under the microscope w/ Kirsty Howey, ECNT

This week on the program we’re exploring the music and stories of Stiff Gins with one half of the Musical Duo Kaleena Briggs. Kaleena and her musical partner Nardi Simpson are freshwater women, whose ancestry, identity, connection to country sings through into their music. 

They’ve been releasing music as the Stiff gins for 25 years, releasing 3 acclaimed albums and touring all over Australia and the world, and run music workshops in rural and remote indigenous communities.  In their time they have accrued many accolades to their names including: Recipients of the Centenary Medal for ‘Outstanding Service to Indigenous Music, Most promising new talent at the deadly awards in 2000 & Best Single release at the deadly awards in 2001.

You can find their music on Spotify at the following link: Stiff Gins | Spotify

This week on the program we’re exploring the music and stories of Stiff Gins with one half of the Musical Duo Kaleena Briggs. Kaleena and her musical partner Nardi Simpson are freshwater women, whose ancestry, identity, connection to country sings through into their music. 
They’ve been releasing music as the Stiff gins for 25 years, releasing 3 acclaimed albums and touring all over Australia and the world, and run music workshops in rural and remote indigenous communities.  In their time they have accrued many accolades to their names including: Recipients of the Centenary Medal for ‘Outstanding Service to Indigenous Music, Most promising new talent at the deadly awards in 2000 &amp; Best Single release at the deadly awards in 2001.
You can find their music on Spotify at the following link: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Ik7g8D0GVyDb284d4caUi">Stiff Gins | Spotify</a>

***Bonus EXTENDED interview w/Kaleena Briggs from Stiff Gins***

This week on the program we’re exploring the music and stories of Stiff Gins with one half of the Musical Duo Kaleena Briggs. Kaleena and her musical partner Nardi Simpson are fresh water women, whose ancestry, identity, connection to country sings through into their music. 

They’ve been releasing music as the Stiff gins for 25 years, releasing 3 acclaimed albums and touring all over australia and the world, and run music workshops in rural and remote indigenous communities.  In their time they have accrued many accolades to their names including: Recipients of the Centenary Medal for ‘Outstanding Service to Indigenous Music, Most promising new talent at the deadly awards in 2000 & Best Single release at the deadly awards in 2001.

You can find their music on spotify at the following link: Stiff Gins | Spotify



This is the radio edit version, for an extended interview with Kaleena visit www.waterwatchradio.com, or find it wherever you get your podcasts.

This week on the program we’re exploring the music and stories of Stiff Gins with one half of the Musical Duo Kaleena Briggs. Kaleena and her musical partner Nardi Simpson are fresh water women, whose ancestry, identity, connection to country sings through into their music. 
They’ve been releasing music as the Stiff gins for 25 years, releasing 3 acclaimed albums and touring all over australia and the world, and run music workshops in rural and remote indigenous communities.  In their time they have accrued many accolades to their names including: Recipients of the Centenary Medal for ‘Outstanding Service to Indigenous Music, Most promising new talent at the deadly awards in 2000 &amp; Best Single release at the deadly awards in 2001.
You can find their music on spotify at the following link: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Ik7g8D0GVyDb284d4caUi">Stiff Gins | Spotify</a>
 
This is the radio edit version, for an extended interview with Kaleena visit <a href="http://www.waterwatchradio.com">www.waterwatchradio.com</a>, or find it wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode 79: Stiff Gins w/ Kaleena Briggs

This week on water watch we are travelling south in the Murray Darling Basin to a special little spot on the Murray. Nyah Vinifera is a beautiful red gum and black box forest nestled on the Victorian side of the Murray River near swan hill, where the red sands of the Mallee descend into mud of the mighty Murray.

As a Murray floodplain recognised for its ecological and cultural significance, Nyah and Vinifera have both been identified as sites for Victorian Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism Projects or SDLAM. These projects aim to artificially flood the forest to reverse decades of environmental decline. But these engineering projects are hotly contested, and some believe they may even cause ecological and cultural damage to these special water places.

Take a journey with us as Dan walks through the forest with Wadi Wadi Traditional Owner, Vincent Kirby and members of Friends of Nyah Vinifera, Nicole McKay and Jaquie Kelly.

This week on water watch we are travelling south in the Murray Darling Basin to a special little spot on the Murray. Nyah Vinifera is a beautiful red gum and black box forest nestled on the Victorian side of the Murray River near swan hill, where the red sands of the Mallee descend into mud of the mighty Murray.
As a Murray floodplain recognised for its ecological and cultural significance, Nyah and Vinifera have both been identified as sites for Victorian Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism Projects or SDLAM. These projects aim to artificially flood the forest to reverse decades of environmental decline. But these engineering projects are hotly contested, and some believe they may even cause ecological and cultural damage to these special water places.
Take a journey with us as Dan walks through the forest with Wadi Wadi Traditional Owner, Vincent Kirby and members of Friends of Nyah Vinifera, Nicole McKay and Jaquie Kelly.

Episode 78: Nyah Vinifera & the Murray floodplain experiment

Water Watch is a weekly deep dive into news and current events from policy, ecology, art and climate. With a diversity of voices from our river communities as well as experts in the field, Water Watch celebrates the life and culture of Australia’s waterways, investigates the big issues facing the future of our rivers, and tells important stories about the human connection to land and water. Water Watch is brought to you by Broken Hill based community radio 107.7 2DRYFM.

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