Ive just come back from the Clarence river at the Lilydale bridge and need to amend the 20 metre width i quoted . It is actually 30 metres across , (100 feet) . The concrete bridge decks are 25' long each and the river is four decks wide . I asked a couple of lads who were having a swim if they would walk across the river for me . The boys were about twelve years old and at no time did the water reach their chests and the water was slow moving . As you can imagine this is not enough to be drawn from . If an off stream dam was built and flood water that was only going to go to the sea anyway was diverted to it you would have no objection from me . The Clarence is a mighty river in flood and would fill a dam in no time . But if they want to actually build an instream dam , thats another matter and we will fight it tooth and nail . If my idea of bringing sea water to the interior for evaporation was adopted world wide im sure we could coax some rain to fall on the mainlands .

Work takes me to Grafton about once a month, I know what you say is true.
However it is also true that river in food is awesome, and after it gos to sea is wasted.
Your inland seas are a good idea and part of that sea could be from water bound for the sea in flood or high water flow times.
Do not be confused about the size of pumps needed ,they need be no bigger that the ones that bring water from our storage dams to our city's now.
And in relation to sustainable living vs growth, a poor farmer does not look after his ground.
Better practice is not only the right way to live its the only way.

Thanks for your reply Belly . Does anyone else think theres merit in the idea of using the high tides of the Northern Territory to channel sea water into the countries interior for evaporation purposes ? If a route could be found that followed low ground it may work by tide height alone and cost nothing to run . My idea may sound a little hopefull but it seems little is actually being done about the crisis . Except for the slap in the face for the farmers in the guise of grants for suicided prevention instead of grants to pay their farm loans off that is making them think of suicide . It would also become a mecca for bird and animal life and as a spin off it would give outback towns a welome boost in the way of tourism .