Latest news items
SE drain digging resumes 
Posted June 19, 2007. 11:25:00
The excavators have resumed digging in the upper south-east. (ABC Rural: Karen Hunt)
Digging has resumed for controversial drain extension work in the upper south-east of South Australia. Opponents of the Didicoolum drain lost another court bid yesterday to stop digging. The Environment and Resources Development Court said no case had been made to delay the project further. Digging has resumed on the property Kyeema, owned by Sue and Dean Prosser.
A landholder at Keith, Michael Allen, is among a handful of protesters watching the excavation work. "They have a total of four excavators and a bulldozer working on the drain proper," he said. "There's local members of the police force here making sure no-one puts themselves at risk and everything is conducted in an orderly manner." The decision to continue digging has been applauded by a number of landholders. Farmer Charlie Bruce says some upper south-east properties have huge salinity problems and need the drainage work urgently. "The people trying to stop the drains seem to think they've got the right for us to receive the tail water and we've got no right to dispose of it," he said. "The country where we all live it's always been slightly saline but it's just going backwards all the time.
"We've had a reprieve during this drought but as soon as it gets wet again and the ground water comes up we'll be in a hell of a mess." Opponents of the drain extension say they are yet to exhaust all their legal options. Conservationist James Darling says there are concerns that the contractors could be guilty of illegal clearing. He says that matter will be taken up tomorrow with the Native Vegetation Council. "It says only four trees are going to be knocked over by this 30-odd metre trench and spoil banks that are going to be carved through the Prosser's place and we can't see how it can be limited to only four trees," he said.
SE drain work set to resume next week
Friday, 15 June 2007. 13:07
Opponents of the Didicoolum drain extension in the upper south-east say the South Australian Government has told them that construction will resume next week. The Government voluntarily suspended work last month when landholders Dean and Sue Prosser went to the Supreme Court to try to stop the development. They met SA Environment Minister Gail Gago last week and again sought a full assessment of possible environmental effects of the drainage project.
James Darling, from the Stop the Drain Coalition, says the Minister has issued a fax to let them know the works will resume on Tuesday. "It seems to be a sheer bloody-minded decision to continue full steam ahead," he said."The Minister seems totally captive by the deep drain culture of the Upper South-East Program Board and is really acting against the State Government's own assessment."
Keith conservationist recognised in birthday list
Monday, 11 June 2007. 13:08
Keith conservationist James Darling has been named a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday 2007 Honours list. Mr Darling has been recognised for his work in developing the environment, sustainable land management practices and the arts and says the award should acknowledge those who have helped him achieve his goals.
"I would like to share with the people who I have been able to work with and the people of Keith also and all of this region and I hope that they might feel a bit of reflected glory," he said.
Drain confusion
Wednesday, 30 May 2007.
Confusion surrounds the current status of government regulations regarding the restart of work on the Didicoolum drain. Despite reports in the media to the contrary, the government says it has not yet introduced any resolution allowing construction to recommence. Project leader for the Upper South East Drainage Project Andrew Beale says the there's no definitive date for such a resolution to be introduced to Cabinet.
Court defers SE drain case
Monday, 28 May 2007. 16:21 (ABC South Australia)
The digging of a controversial drain in the upper south-east of South Australia has been suspended indefinitely. Landholders claim the Didicoolum drain extension threatens the environment and farming. The matter has been adjourned in the Supreme Court today, pending changes to State Government regulations to allow the drain work.
A landholder, James Darling, is claiming a win. "The minister has offered us that no further digging will happen without two clear business days' notice," he said.
Anti-drain campaign to return to court
Monday, 28 May 2007. 08:15 (ABC South Australia)
A campaign to stop a drain extension in the upper south-east region of South Australia will return to the Supreme Court today.
Last week, Justice Ann Vanstone revoked an interim injunction that had temporarily stopped digging for the Diddicoolum drain on the Kyeema property, saying the work was part of a bigger project purportedly in the public interest. But landholders say they have gathered fresh evidence of the damage they believe will take place if an injunction is not ordered.
James Darling was among a group of concerned locals who met with a lawyer in Adelaide yesterday to prepare today's submission. He says they are confident they have a case after examining the judge's ruling.
"She did say that we had a prima facie case," he said. "I think that we can bring a bit more evidence to that case and we would hope that we could tip the balance in our favour."
SA drain protest fails
By Karen Hunt
Protesters have failed to stop excavation crews continuing work on a controversial new drain. The state, federal and land-holder funded Diddicoolum drain is part of a South Australian regional drainage scheme, which the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation says will address dryland salinity in the area.
But opponents say it will drain fresh water from the soil profile and reduce agricultural productivity by up to 20 per cent. Over 100 protesters began their vigil at the boundary of a property between Keith and Kingston in the south-east of South Australia on Monday, but reduced their numbers when the construction crew failed to arrive at the site.
However, as police escorted machinery onto the site this morning, mobile phones summoned around 80 neighbours and concerned locals to once again set up their picket line. As a last minute legal challenge was rushed through the Supreme Court, the Prosser's boundary fences were breached, and excavators began ripping a channel through the pasture grasses.
Property owners Dean and Susan Prosser were visibly upset about what they say is an illegal invasion of their land, and were comforted by friends. Mrs Prosser said it had been a very emotional time. "Once our boundary lines were cut and those huge machines just gouged and ripped through the soil of our property, tears welled up in my eyes and I was just overcome with emotion, and anger and my body just became weak.
"I had stomach cramps ripping through my stomach." Opponents of the drain lined up in front of the machines, but were continually moved back and kept at a safe distance by the four police initially at the site.As the construction contractors moved further into the property, police numbers were bolstered by the arrival of another dozen officers, outraging the protesters who said they believed they were acting within the constraints of the law.
Work was eventually halted when the protesters were awarded a 24-hour injunction against the construction of the drain by the Supreme Court.
Diddicoolum drain protest
Friday, 25/05/2007 (ABC: Karen Hunt)
More than 120 farmers and 60 farm vehicles lined up along a South Australian paddock boundary in a protest against construction of a controversial drain. Battle lines have been drawn at the boundary of the "Kyeema" property of Dean and Susan Prosser, about half way between Keith and Kingston. Excavation work on the drain has been halted some 20 metres from the Prosser's boundary fence.
The Diddicoolum drain is part of the Upper South East Dryland Salinity and Flood Management program, an $83 million project involving over 600 kilometres of drains. The South Australian Government says the two-metre deep drain will take saline groundwater from the region, and improve agricultural productivity and improve the region's extensive wetlands. But opponents say the opposite will occur.
The Prossers argue they have controlled salinity on their land through extensive tree planting and environmentally-friendly management practices. They and their supporters have been fighting for over three years to keep the excavators off their property, saying that drainage project is based on outdated and inexact science. A legal challenge to the construction failed last week and the protesters now say they'll remain on the site, "for as long as it takes."
Spokesperson for the group James Darling, a landholder from Keith, says the group wanted work on the drain stopped until an environmental audit could be done to assess the impact of drains already constructed. Despite the blockade, the Government will continue to go ahead with its plans to construct the drain. Minister for the Environment Gail Gago says she understands that feelings are running high.
"The bottom line is that the Government has got far better to do with its money and levy payers money to waste on a project that we thought that it wasn't in the best interests of the community."
Court revokes drain project injunction
Thursday, 24 May 2007. 13:30 (ABC South Australia)
Two landowners in the upper south-east of South Australia have lost a bid to stop a State Government drainage project on their property. Excavators reached Dean and Sue Prosser's land near Willalooka yesterday as part of the Didicoolum drain extension. About 100 people protested at the site, claiming that the project will put the local environment and farming at risk. The Government argues that salinity will be reduced.
An interim injunction was granted yesterday, stopping earthworks at the site. Justice Ann Vanstone revoked that order today, to allow work to continue. She said that, although the Prossers made a prima-facie case that government regulations were invalid, the drain extension was part of a bigger project that was seen to be in the public interest.
A group of farmers supporting the drain extension has sent a letter to the state Environment Minister, Gail Gago, praising her efforts on the project. Willalooka pastoralist Malcolm McDonald is among about 35 landholders who signed the letter. He says the drain is crucial for the district.
"It will save the wetlands and all the redgums that are hundreds of years old and preserve all of that country, plus it will stop the salinity problems on the agricultural land," he said.
Court grants drain injuction
Wednesday, 23 May 2007. 16:40 (ABC News Online)
An interim injunction has been granted to stop work on a drain extension in the upper south-east of South Australia. Dozens of protesters had been at the site, near Willalooka, trying to stop excavation work. The South Australian Government says the drainage work will help reduce salinity. But opponents say the drain, which is on private property, will threaten agricultural production and biodiversity. The Supreme Court has granted a one-day injunction to stop the construction work.
Farmer Patrick Ross says about 100 protesters remained calm at the site today, despite excavators crossing onto private land when opponents argue they had no legal right to do. "It's an enormous relief that we've got to this point. But it's a great disappointment that the minister, knowing that this judicial process is happening ... allowed the contractor to continue," he said. "They've now encroached onto the Prossers' land by 100 m."
Mr Ross says the owners have undertaken an enormous amount of revegetation on their land, and are devastated by the drainage work. "Susan Prosser has broken down and is physically very shaken and Dean is very shaken," he said. "They are in a very bad way."
Andrew Beal, of the state Environment Department, says the route chosen for the drain is the best available option. "We have explained on a number of occasions previously that their concerns are unfounded and we continue to hold that view," he said.
"We've done an enormous amount of technical investigation on the Marcollat flat adjacent to the Didicoolum drain and also the Marcollat watercourse adjacent to the same drain and we really understand that landscape very well." The local state member of parliament and opposition water spokesman, Mitch Williams, supports calls for an independent audit of the drain's potential effect on the regional water table.
Court drain move expected 
Wednesday, May 23, 2007. 11:50am (NICK HENDERSON, POLITICAL REPORTER)
EXCAVATORS have started digging a controversial drain through a property in the state's south-east but a Supreme Court injunction is expected to be lodged later today to prevent the work from continuing.
More than 100 protestors who claim the drain will significantly damage wetlands and cause problems for irrigators are being watched by police at the property. The drain is being built though the Kyeema property, near Padthaway, to fix salinity in the area.
Opposition planning spokesman David Ridgway said an independent environmental audit should be conducted by the CSIRO before works continue.
Democrats MLC Sandra Kanck said the drainage works should be scrapped because of its negative impact on the land
SE landowners keen to stop drain project
Wednesday, 23 May 2007. 12:06pm (ABC News)
Opponents of the Didicoolum drain extension in the upper south-east of South Australia will seek an urgent injunction in the Supreme Court. They want to stop excavators from any further digging on the property, Kyeema, owned by Susan and Dean Prosser. The machinery has already crossed the boundary into Kyeema, where a protest is being staged.
A local landholder, James Darling, says time is running out. "There's probably 80, 90 people here and everyone is very calm," he said. "They're lined up on the drainage alignment and they've got their banners and everyone has ... behaved and we intend to keep it like that, except that we think the digging is not legally established."
A south-east farmer, Patrick Ross, says the State Government should be listening to the people instead of relying on outdated scientific data. He says the drain project could jeopardise the environment and future agricultural production. "Here today there are 97 per cent of landholders in this district from Padthaway through to Marcollat are not in favour of the drain," he said. "They aren't protesters; these are landholders and they are not in favour of this drain going ahead and the government is going to make this go forward and it is wrong."
The South Australian Government says the work is crucial for the upper south-east and landholders will appreciate it in the long-term. But Mr Ross says Kyeema's owners have done an enormous amount of revegetation on their land and are personally devastated by the drainage work. "Susan Prosser has broken down and is physically very shaken and Dean is very shaken," he said. "They are in a very bad way."
Protesters rally against drain works
Monday, May 21, 2007. 11:12am (ABC News Online)
About 100 people from across South Australia's upper south east are holding a protest near Padthaway to stop bulldozers from continuing work on a major drain. The contractors have not turned up. Almost 50 vehicles are lined up in two rows along the section of land earmarked for digging an extension of the Didicoolum drain.
Opponents of the project have tried to have the work declared illegal, but were overruled by Environment Minister Gail Gago. Landowner James Darling says the drain is a threat to the local environment and agriculture, and the Government is refusing to listen.
"It's the South Australian taxpayer which is funding this and the Australian taxpayer. We want to stop it dead in its tracks," he said. "It's 30 metres within world class agricultural practices and we want to stop not only this drain, we want to stop all the drains until there is a whole of landscape environmental audit."
SA Democrats MP Sandra Kanck says the drain is an uncontrolled experiment that is meant to fix salinity but will instead destroy the local wetlands. Senator Kanck is at the protest, where she says the farmers are making speeches while they wait for the contractors to arrive. She says the local community has been making written submissions and signing petitions but has been completely ignored by the State Government. "There are a number of issues but the Padthaway irrigators for instance are here and they are saying that since the drains were built near them, that their watertable is basically disappearing," she said. "They are having to put pumps, they're trying to get to that water and finding that it simply isn't there."
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