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Tintinara, upper SE of South Australia
Farming display, Tintinara, SE South Australia
On my recent quick visit to Tintinara in the upper south east of South Australia I had morning tea in the picnic grounds next to the Information Centre and Craft gallery. On the lawns in front of the centre there is an interesting display of metal cutouts of a farmer, his ever alert sheep dogs and a small flock of merino sheep (see photos). This is a fitting tribute to the farming heritage of this area where both sheep and wheat are the strengths of the agricultural pursuits of this region.
Farming display, Tintinara, SE South Australia
The water table is not too far below the surface and windmills like that shown in the photo above are a feature on many farms. Most farms in the region rely on this aquifer, part of the Great Artesian Basin that covers a large part of Australia.
2008 Road Trip: Narrandera, New South Wales
Narrandera, New South Wales
On the second day of our 2008 Road Trip to Sydney we travelled from Hay to Narrandera before stopping for fuel and morning tea. We found a lovely spot in a park near an oval (see photos above and below). It was a much more pleasant day than the day before; the cooler change had come through overnight.
We had a lovely cup of tea with a few home made biscuits we’d brought with us. We quite often also take a thermos with for picnics.
Again, we were disturbed by the excessive use of water. In the middle of the day the evaporation rate is enormous, yet the large sprinklers were pounding out volumes of water on to the nearby oval, as shown in the photo below. Narrandera, like Hay, draws its water from the Murrumbidgee River, a tributary of the Murray River. In South Australia we have been unable to use sprinklers in gardens for several years, and many sporting ovals are dry and dying grass.
I find the lack of restrictions to be environmental vandalism. The lower lakes in South Australia are almost dead, yet here water is being used as if we are not in the biggest drought on record.
Unbelievable.
Narrandera, New South Wales
2008 Road Trip: Murrumbidgee River
Murrumbidgee River, Hay, NSW
On the second day of our 2008 Road Trip to Sydney we left Hay early in the morning because we had a long drive of over 700km to our son’s home in Sydney. Having three drivers – our daughter came with us on this trip – helped ease the burden on driving. Normally we would not attempt such a long distance in one day; we like to stop frequently and look at places.
Before we left Hay in western New South Wales, we went to take a few photos of the Murrumbidgee River which flows through the town. This river is one of the many tributaries of the Murray River which flows through our home town of Murray Bridge.
We were rather disturbed by the liberal use of water in the local gardens. On our walk the previous evening we saw numerous expansive lawns being watered by sprinkler. In South Australia we haven’t been allowed to use sprinklers for several years. I believe that ALL people drawing water from the Murray-Darling river basin should be on the same level of water use. It is not only morally wrong to have different rules for different states – I believe it is environmental vandalism. The lower lakes in South Australia are dying – perhaps are already past the point of being saved, yet here people continue to waste huge volumes of water so that their gardens can look beautiful.
Murrumbidgee River, Hay, NSW