Byron Greens -> articles -> steve_posselt_booklaunch

Steve Posselt Booklaunch at Ballina

Steve Posselt an Alstonville based civil engineer launched his book "Cry me a River" at Ballina this week.

The book is based on Steve's 3000 kilometer journey down the Murray-Darling river system from Brisbane to Adelaide, in a wheeled kyak. Steve was amazed at the dreadful damage done to the river system by over water allocation and other practices.

Steve was joined by dozens of congratulatory locals, media, fellow authors and Ballina Shire’s Mayor, Philip Silver.

Steve also drew attention to  the health of the Richmond and other Northern river systems, where fish kills after heavy rain are becoming an all too common occurrence. This situation has been accepted as normal by authorities but it indicates that the rivers are not healthy.

“When folklore says something’s natural, like, that fish kills are natural, it’s difficult to change people’s behaviour or thoughts on an issue,” said Steve, “For generations, we’ve been told  “it’s natural – this is what happens to our rivers – it’s always been that way” but it’s not,” Steve added.

“The land is a sponge: rivers should not be treated as a drain. I don’t know what is it that helps people change their psyche. Do we need a fish kill every year to make people to change their mind?” said Steve.

Last year (2008) Steve paddled a kayak down the east coast (stopping off at Byron on the way),  to raise awareness about the threat to the Mary River  valley by the State Government's plans to build a dam on it.