Menindee Fish Kills / 2023
Menindee (NSW)
Menindee (NSW)
Motivated by the devastation of the 2019 Menindee fish kill, Otis embarked on a journey that took him from Melbourne to the remote western reaches of New South Wales, driven by the desire to witness the condition of the Darling-Baaka River. Over a span of four years, Otis chronicled the ever-shifting physical state of the river, detailing its ongoing degradation.
Simultaneously, the emotional rollercoaster experienced by the local residents mirrored the river's fluctuations, as trust in river management continued to erode. The unyielding struggle to safeguard the health of this critical cultural and physical lifeline exacts an immense toll on the communities that rely on it. Against the grim backdrop of the 2023 mass fish kill, an event that witnessed an astounding 20-30 million lifeless fish surfacing in the Darling-Baaka River, I stationed myself in Menindee, reporting for The Guardian.
Simultaneously, the emotional rollercoaster experienced by the local residents mirrored the river's fluctuations, as trust in river management continued to erode. The unyielding struggle to safeguard the health of this critical cultural and physical lifeline exacts an immense toll on the communities that rely on it. Against the grim backdrop of the 2023 mass fish kill, an event that witnessed an astounding 20-30 million lifeless fish surfacing in the Darling-Baaka River, I stationed myself in Menindee, reporting for The Guardian.
‘All this here will kill this river’: traditional owners grieve for the Darling-Baaka after mass fish death
Barkandji people say they are tired of fighting for the health of the river after millions of fish died in a hypoxic blackwater event
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Menindee reacts to latest fish kills: 'An Australian disaster like bushfire and floods'
The Guardian | Videographer, Journalist | 2023
Members of the Menindee community are trying to come to terms with how another mass fish kill incident has occurred in the Darling-Baaka River. 'This is an Australian disaster and it should be treated as such: like a bushfire, like a flood. Fish kills and unhealthy river systems have got to be taken seriously," says Barkandji woman Denise O’Donnell
Members of the Menindee community are trying to come to terms with how another mass fish kill incident has occurred in the Darling-Baaka River. 'This is an Australian disaster and it should be treated as such: like a bushfire, like a flood. Fish kills and unhealthy river systems have got to be taken seriously," says Barkandji woman Denise O’Donnell
Menindee residents ask officials to drink town’s water as reassurance after massive fish kill
WaterNSW testing shows drinking supply passes Australian cleanliness guidelines but community remains unconvinced about river management
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The Guardian | Videographer, Journalist | 2023
Officials at a heated town meeting in Menindee, outback New South Wales, are challenged to drink a mug of town water in front of the crowd after assuring the community that it meets Australian drinking water standards. The request is issued by Jan Fennell, a resident who says the town is tired of being given instructions by authorities without being granted meaningful involvement or reassurances.
Officials at a heated town meeting in Menindee, outback New South Wales, are challenged to drink a mug of town water in front of the crowd after assuring the community that it meets Australian drinking water standards. The request is issued by Jan Fennell, a resident who says the town is tired of being given instructions by authorities without being granted meaningful involvement or reassurances.
Darling-Baaka River Menindee cleanup begins six days after mass fish kill
Locals live with the stink of rotting fish as millions of submerged carcasses raise concerns about water quality
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The Guardian | Videographer, Journalist | 2023
Community members react after a town meeting at the Menindee civic hall which was held to address concerns relating to the cleanliness and security of the water of the town following the deaths of millions of fish in the Darling-Baaka river.
Community members react after a town meeting at the Menindee civic hall which was held to address concerns relating to the cleanliness and security of the water of the town following the deaths of millions of fish in the Darling-Baaka river.
At Menindee, the lifeblood of the people has turned to bitter sludge
The fight for a healthy Darling-Baaka River is becoming a ‘recurring nightmare’ for the communities that depend on it
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New NSW premier Chris Minns commits to investigation into Menindee mass fish kill
Locals happy to see Labor ministers visit town days after election and are hopeful they will help stop destruction of Darling-Baaka River.
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Menindee farmers scramble for stock water after tests show river has ‘potentially toxic algae’
Local authorities have delivered 147,000 litres of water for household use to properties along the Darling-Baaka River, but do not cover livestock.
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