The Wire

The Snowy River is one of the most iconic natural features of Australia’s inland, conjuring up images of bushmen and brumbies as it flows down from Jindabyne in New South Wales out to the sea at Marlo in Victoria. However the state of the river suffered greatly following the completion of the Hydro Electric Scheme in the 1970s. With 99% of the original flows diverted, the river dwindled to a shadow of what it once was, devastating the two communities along it – Dalgety in NSW and Orbost in Victoria. The campaign by these two communities over the last twenty-five years to restore water flows to the Snowy shows the success that grassroots organisations can have. Claire Miller is the author of a new book about the long battle, called Snowy River Story. She spoke to Bill Birtles about the struggles and successes of the campaign, beginning with the impact that the Hyrdo Scheme had.