Problems along the Murray River
Quite apart from lack of water there are human usage and waste management issues along the river.
- There is the ongoing problem of “feral” boats and moorings where people have made very homemade houseboats which breach almost every regulation and squat in them in billabongs and quiet corners often with only long drop toilets.
- The boating industry has been trying to get authorities to address this problem for a very long time and members have put weeks of work into mapping and reporting them to authorities. There are also problems with abandoned boats – many being the feral ones and no one takes responsibility unless they are sunk in a navigation channel. This is a major litter problem which is becoming more apparent as the water level drops and the issue needs to be address.
- Another issue is Shack (holiday home) owners along the river who think it would be nice t have their own private beach in front of their house so they landscape it with tons of sand on the riverbank. This washes away next winter (if it ever rains again) and the sand needs to be dredged from where it lands, to clear the channels. There are increasing fines for both shack owners and fro truck drivers involved in this practice.
- Cattle along the river bank need to be fenced from the river with access to safe water to prevent them damaging river banks, becoming bogged and resulting in dead cows rotting in the river.
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