The Border Watch: March 4, 2009

KEEPING THE SOUTH EAST INFORMED SINCE 1861

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

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Water worry

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BY SANDRA MORELLO Email: [email protected]

GRANT District Council has raised concerns over plummeting groundwater levels in the South East, following fears the resource is being overused. Council called for an immediate update from the South East Natural Resource Management Board (SERMB) at its meeting on Monday as to the status of its new water allocation plans. It is understood the aquifer is running dry on some properties around Glencoe and Kalangadoo and farmers now have to drill down to 90m in some areas of Coonawarra just to reach the water table. Before the downward spiral, The Border Watch has been told irrigators only needed to drill down 20m to tap into the Coonawarra aquifer and stock windmills could function by sitting on top of the aquifer. It is also believed some apple and potato growers in the Kalangadoo area are no longer able to irrigate their valuable crops because of the disappearing aquifer. Grant Mayor Don Pegler told council he was concerned that water tables were dropping and questioned arguments that the

WEATHER

decline could be blamed on declining rainfall. “Perhaps we are using too much; it is important that we find out,” Mr Pegler said. The council leader, who runs a sheep property at Kongorong, warned yesterday any cuts to industry must be swept in quickly to lessen the impact to the sectors. “If it is done earlier, it will lessen the pain,” said Mr Pegler, who explained all water using industries - along with forestry - had to be included in any water budget deliberations. He said the water resource underpinned many sectors in the South East, including viticulture, dairy and horticulture. “These industries would not be what they are without this resource. We need to protect the resource,” Mr Pegler said. Meanwhile, Mount Gambier irrigation company Think Water Mount Gambier has noticed a decline in watertables in hotspots across the region, including Kalangadoo, Glencoe and Coonawarra. Service manager Steven Lamb said falling watertable trends were widespread, particularly in shallow areas. Continued page 5

Toxic onion dog warning BY ELLIE TURNER Email: [email protected]

pOne man’s best friend had a lucky escape from doggy heaven over the weekend after eating onion on a pizza early last week. Dr Kate Chambers diagnosed the dog and has warned South East residents of the danger. Picture: ELLIE TURNER.

Mount Gambier Today - A few showers. 18o – full report page 27

KID’S PAGE

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COMICS

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TREATING a sick canine has prompted a Mount Gambier veterinarian to warn the public that onions are poisonous to dogs. Dr Kate Chambers from Clarke and Associates Veterinary Practice said onions were highly toxic when ingested by dogs, destroying their red blood cells and causing anaemia. Dr Chambers said the animal in question ate a quantity of the vegetable on some pizza around a month ago. “It ate onion on a Tuesday and by Saturday it had collapsed; anaemia can cause muscle weakness, tiredness and breathing difficulty,” she said. “Around 400 grams of onion can bring a 10kg dog to its knees, whether eaten all in one hit or on several occasions.” Dr Chambers said anything from the onion family including shallots, spring onions and garlic was a danger. She also outlined three other foods highly toxic to the canine system. “Dogs should not be fed chocolate, grapes or macadamia nuts,” she said. “Chocolate speeds up the heart rate and can lead to cardiac arrest, grapes and related foods cause kidney failure and macadamia nuts shut down the central nervous system. “If a dog ingests any of these foods we urge the owner to contact a vet straight away; we can remove it from the system or if symptoms are already present supportive care will be initiated.” This care has proved effective - the onion affected dog has made a full recovery and is home with its family.

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