Episode: VIC Waterwise Special ? Our Changing Climate
Presenter: Lavinia Nixon

While debate ranges as to the cause, there is much evidence to suggest that our climate is changing and the warning bells are sending a message across the nation. Our water supplies are in crisis. World renowned scientist, Professor Peter Cullen has dedicated most of his life to developing a vision for sustainable water use.

What are the really terrifying facts about how are climate is changing?

You look at the current situation in Victoria where we have these very low stream flows and low rainfalls, this is now about a 1 in 400 year event in terms of a dry period. If this is just a drought that breaks then great but if this really is climate change happening at a much greater rate than expected then we have to factor that into our thinking of water supply over the next 50 years.

What will life be like if we continue down this path?

We won?t be able to continue along this path, we are going to have to change the way we use and manage our water. We have plenty of water in Australia to meet our needs, but not for the wasteful ways that we have perhaps been using it, so now we have to think about the important things that we need to use our water resources for. We are going to all have to change as individuals and be more careful and efficient with our use of water and our governments are going to have to be smarter and better at the sort of depth and quality they put into their water resources plan.

The first thing to do is to make sure that everyone is using water as efficiently as possible; efficiently in the home, the home garden and in industry and agriculture. Governments have a wide range of programs to educate the community, to provide incentives for water saving devices and to make sure we are using water in the smartest way possible. It is essential that we meet the needs of our communities and must assume the worst that this is either going to stay the same or get much worse.

We can handle these problems but we are going to have to be smarter about it.

Featured Location

Maroonda dam one of Victoria?s most important water sources is now at 22% of capacity one of its lowest points ever, recent research suggested the south western corner of Australia is suffering from the most significant drying effects anywhere on earth, is the south eastern part of Australia likely to suffer a similar problem

Professor Peter Cullen

Professor Peter Cullen, AO, FTSE is a recognised leader in river health, and water and land management. He was the founding Chief Executive of the Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology at the University of Canberra. He is a Commissioner of the National Water Commission, a member of the Natural Heritage Trust Advisory Council and a Director of Land and Water Australia. Prof Cullen is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Canberra

Professor Cullen?s ongoing commitment to improving the way that water is used in Australia led to him being awarded the Prime Minister?s Prize for Environmentalist of the Year in 2001 for his work on the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, and the Naumann-Thienemann medal in 2004 ? the highest level of recognition from the International Limnology Society.

Professor Cullen has made a substantial contribution to the sustainable management of Victoria's water resources, chairing both the Victorian Water Trust Advisory Council, which advises the Victorian government on investment of the $320-million Victorian Water Trust, and the Independent Panel examining submissions on the Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy.