30 years ago the biggest and most oppulant buildings in Wee Waa were the Police Station(jailhouse) and the Baptist Church.Wee Waa in Western NSW was famous for the first publicised "death in custody" of an aboriginal,needed a big jail.The Baptist Church was financed by the hard nose American Baptist who had come to end of the earth to plant cotton and prosper. These men cut down every tree in every direction for as far as the eye could see.They setup the irrigation systems that sucked the life out of the river(though European carp did well).They saw it as their right to take as much water as they needed.After all they were developing the wilderness.Surrounding farms owned by locals saw the opportunities cotton presented and as they could afford the expensive leveling and water channels needed for cotton,the industry grew. With the growth of towns like Moree and Wee Waa these people had power and started demanding surity of water access.Water rights were born. This story has been repeated throughout the water systems in this country and the terrible situation that exists now must be addressed.Differing crops in different towns we have had our food supplied at a discount because a true fair value has not been placed on the water to grow the crops. Politicians from both sides,state and federal as well as local councils have allowed the river systems of this country to be destroyed because local perochial interests always triumphed over the national interest.The National interest is a healthy river system.If the river dies there is no life,no crops,no towns,no water for the big cities. Farmers on our water ways need to adapt.They need to learn new farming methods that use less water.They may need to vary their crops to suite the water supply.They need to move to areas in Australia where there is an abundance of water.We need to help them do this What on earth did those people have in their heads when they gave farmers water rights,in a country like Australia where droughts are regular.And the capacity to own water rights and pass them on.It makes no sence to me and shows the true value of water was not really appreciated.These rights were initially given away with no thought for the health of the rivers. Many civilizations in history have vanished or moved on when the water dried up and unless something substantial is done to protect the river systems,you may find more people on that coastal strip.
