Lake Eyre and the Mound Springs
Lake Eyre is Australia largest salt lake. It is national Park listed and has been identified by CSIRO as part of a wetland complex of World Heritage value. During major floods it becomes the site of massive breeding events in fish species and waterbirds. Lake Eyre is the lowest point in Australia, being 15 metres below seal level. Any pollution in the region potentially finds its way to that low point such as surface run off of any industrial process including diesel and petrol spills.
In this region is also numerous ancient mound springs. The mound springs are the principle source of water, and are vital to the survival of the arid and semi-arid inland desert ecosystems, animals and the Arabunna and Kokatha peoples. These mound springs are of cultural significance to the Aboriginal communities as they are part if their communal intellectual property and the songlines of the area. There has been an overall decline in the flows from mound springs due to the excessive demands made on the Great artesian basin over the past century by mining and agricultural activity. Olympic Dam's intake is largely responsible. Some springs have ceased to flow altogether while other springs flow has been reduced by up to 80%. BHP will not acknowledge that water is sacred, regarding it as a free commodity to be utilised by industry. The sheer scale of Olympic Dam and the blatant disregard BHP has for culture and country in pursuit of profits has had devastating effects on the Kokatha and Arrabunna people and their homelands.
from www.green.net.au
other sites www.sea-us.org.au/roxstop97