PM Transcripts

, AU STHA LIA-,
PRIME MINISTER 3 May 1974
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER THE HON. E. G. WHITLAM, MP.
DARTMOUTH DAM
The River Murray Commission in the immediate future
will have to make a decision about letting the main contract for
the Dartmouth Dam, which will be the means of adding very
substantially to the water available to South Australia in the
years to come. The Australian Government had last year suggested that
there could be some , merit in slowing down the rate of construction
of-this project. Over the last few months, however, an appraisal
of the overall impact of the project has shown that it would not
be appropriate to slow down or defer the work. The appraisal will
be published as soon as printed. The Australian Government will
therefore facilitate an early decision by the River Murray
Commission. The Australian Government still feels the grave concern
over the management of the River Murray which I expressed at my
meeting with the Premiers of South Australia, New South Wales and
Victoria early last year. Indeed my concern has increased, since
I do not believe it can be said that the progress made since that
meeting has been such as to provide much cause for satisfaction.
I would hope that as work goes on at top speed to build the great
storage in the upper catchment of the Murray, there will be a similar
sense of urgency associated with studies that will pave the way for
the most effective use and management of this river and its associated
land resources. I hope also that there will be a serious and
concerted effort to reach agreement on the means whereby the
River Murray Commission, in accordance with modern concepts of water
management, can have a really effective role in the development
and management of the River Murray.
CANBERRA. A. C. T