PRIME South Australian cattle-fattening country and pristine ephemeral wetlands in the State's far north east could be under threat if dormant water licences along the Cooper Creek are reactivated.
It was reported last week that the Queensland Government was considering a proposal to activate the "sleeper" licences - equating to 10 gigalitres of water - in south west Qld.
The move would be consistent with National Water Initiative guidelines, eliminating any barriers to trade.
Considered the only 'untouched' waterway left in Australia, the Cooper Creek begins at the junction of Thomson and Barcoo rivers in central Qld. It spreads into a myriad of channels - the Channel Country - making its way into the south west corner of Qld before turning into SA.
If northern rainfall is significant, flows can reach Lake Eyre, however, the last time that occurred was in 1990.
Waterholes within the catchment are an important refuge for aquatic organisms, wildlife and stock.
Australian Rivers Institute director Professor Stuart Bunn said the existence of these habitats was completely dependent on surface flow events because of no groundwater connection.
"If the frequency of the flows is diminished or the duration of dry spells is increased because of extraction upstream, then they will disappear," he said. "If these go, so does the wildlife and everything else that depends on them."
The tributary also helps to replenish the RAMSAR-listed Coongie Lakes just above Innamincka.
Mr Bunn said while the volumes associated with the licences were unlikely to affect flood flows into the lakes and other wetland systems in SA, it would effect how often and how far the smaller channel flows would make their way down the system.
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said sacrificing any lakes water would be an "international disaster", similar to the plight of the Coorong and Lower Lakes.
"Any water you take out of the top of the system will limit the reach of it at the bottom of the system, where some of the most delicate ecosystems in Australia are situated," he said.
The controversial licences were granted by the Qld Government in the 1990s when projects for irrigated cotton farming were proposed.
But following overwhelming concern for the environment and pressure from graziers, scientists and the states, the licences were never used but also never cancelled.
Last week, the Bligh government was developing a revised water resource plan for Cooper Creek.
Qld Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson said the use and possible trading of the licences in the creek was "yet to be determined".
Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation's Andrew Johnson said SA had been participating in Qld's water planning process, providing water modelling information to assist in the development of its water plan.
"Discussions are under way about the possible environmental effects of water management in the Cooper system," he said. "SA will work to ensure that any proposed changes are scientifically assessed and that an environmentally- sustainable result is achieved for the whole system."
* Extract from a full report in Stock Journal, July 23 issue.
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