Save the Fitzroy River from Gina Rinehart’s land and water grab

The next few months will decide the fate of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River, forever. The WA Government is under pressure to open it up to the likes of Gina Rinehart who wants to take 325 billion litres to grow cattle fodder and other crops.

To save the River from becoming the next Murray Darling and to ensure the National Heritage values, sustainable use by Traditional Owners and the critically endangered Sawfish are safe into the future, we need to get a strong message to government. We can’t compete with the billions Ms Rinehart has at her disposal but we know that the voice of the people is important to decision makers.

The choice is simple – open up the river to industrial agriculture for the likes of Gina Rinehart or protect it so that Traditional Owners and locals can continue to enjoy its benefits including recreation, fishing, camping and cultural activities. Industrial agriculture also means destroying vast tracts of bush leading to lost opportunities for growing bushfoods and traditional medicines. 

We need to get as many people as possible contacting the government to call for the River to be protected from pumps and channels – this is the only safeguard for its future.

To do this we need to raise funds and awareness. Fortunately we have some very talented people in the Kimberley and we’ve teamed up with renowned filmmaker Mark Jones and talented Indigenous Actor, Mark Coles Smith, who through an ongoing cultural connection has created the music for the River.

Together we’ve created this short video to highlight the beauty of the River, the threat and a call out for support. We can’t match the wealth of billionaires but if we get thousands of people putting in $10 or $20 or more each (donations are tax deductible), then we can build up a fund that can get the message out:

Save the Fitzroy River!

Thank you if you’ve already contributed to protecting the Fitzroy, if you’ve yet to do so, please chip-in what you can but also, just as importantly share the video on social media and through your networks.

For the Martuwarra!