The Federal Government has promised $330 million to support the South Australian Government in addressing the challenges facing the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth.

"As part of this commitment, the Australian Government has advanced funds to South Australia for feasibility work on a long-term solution to the environmental problems facing this icon site," Sen Wong said.

"The number one priority is to avoid acidification."

The Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts has engaged a panel of experts with hydrological and ecological expertise to advise the Federal Government on management options now under development in South Australia.

Members of the expert group are:

· Don Blackmore – former Chief Executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission;

· Dr Andrew Herzceg – CSIRO Land and Water Hydrology Research Program;

· Prof Gary Jones – Chief Executive of the eWater CRC;

· Prof Richard Kingsford – School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales;

· Assoc Prof David Paton – Head of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Adelaide; and

· Adjunct Assoc Prof Keith Walker – School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide.

The $330m million provided to support South Australia in meeting the challenges faced in the Lower Lakes area include:

* $200 million towards a long-term plan for the Lower Lakes and Coorong;

* up to $120 million towards the cost of irrigation and drinking water pipelines for communities dependent on the Lower Lakes; and

* up to $10 million for bioremediation and revegetation to help address the risk of acidification.