Conclusions

It is time to pause and reconsider. Time to evaluate the successes and the failures. Time to adapt with the benefit of an increased big picture, whole of landscape, contemporary knowledge. Time to understand the role and value of groundwater and its relationship to surface water - the greatest gap in hydrological knowledge in the Australian landscape - and the consequent results for both agricultural production and the conservation values of the region.

The environmental audit would recommend how best the Upper South East Project could be completed, where and what remedial action should be undertaken, and to educate this region, as well as the people of South Australia and the wider community, how the landscape processes of this country actually work. It would be an educative, sustainable initiative that would be followed by other areas in Australia.

There are compelling reasons why the Premier, the Honourable Mike Rann, Minister for Sustainability, as well the Honourable Gail Gago, Minister for Environment and Heritage, should lead the government to understand and to endorse the environment audit.

 Even if nothing is guaranteed in this world beyond death and taxes, politics is still the art of the possible. The stop the drains coalition is given energy and intelligence by the recognition that the environment is bigger than all of us, and that our particular struggle concerns the quality of the legacy we leave our children and their children. We are calmly determined to succeed.

It is time to use all the tools at our disposal to make a sustainable future that guarantees regional environmental health.

For a detailed summary of scientific and analytical information on the USE program, see www.usedrains.org.au

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