Dear Editor,
Mr Glenn (issue 333) makes some valid points about the damage man has wrought on the earth. From the desertification of the north of Australia by lessening rainfall, where within the gullies and fissures we today see ancient plants growing after water is supplied. So, in an attempt to ameliorate my previous comments on Cranky Rock dam, I propose we all join together to have all current dams opened to release their water storage so that we can return to the natural condition, then limit our flavourable food production to a natural, sustainable, rate. Is this sarcasm you might ask – not a bit of it, just a newly learned desire to remove man’s heavy footprint from the earth to live in harmony with nature and not dam(n) the enlightened environmental circles. So far as “deep-and-careful assessment” is concerned, I think the delay in the project rests more with politics and budgetary priorities than any long-term evaluation (or is that cynicism?)
Further, on the silt in flood waters and dams, all the upstream silted water will drop the matter into the dam and it will silt up over time. Locally, this was borne out at the small dam built at Junction Reef, where the dam was full of silt by the 50’s. Unless the mooted Cranky Rock design has some self-scouring engineering then it may suffer the same end. Finally, I have been called a “loose cannon” before today, but ‘bulldozer’ is more gratifying and useful.
Regards
Bob Sherwood