It is one of Australia's most spectacular sights - the rare greening of our red central
deserts.
It is a miracle of nature - and nothing short of a miracle that in this thirsty country,
these rivers are still largely free to run their course.
We, as Australians, need to really, really appreciate what we have in the way of natural
heritage.
The Lake Eyre Basin is one of the largest dry-land river systems on the planet.
It covers one-sixth of Australia across four states and territories, is fed by three major
river systems - the Georgina, Diamantina and Cooper.
The shining jewel, more than 1,000km downstream, is the vast, usually dry salt pans of Lake
Eyre - also known by its Indigenous name Kati Thanda.
Unlike the Murray-Darling Basin, this system is not regulated. There is no major irrigation,
diversions or dams.
No water security.
But the region's 60,000 residents fight to keep it that way, and 7.30 took a trip through
the basin to find out why.
William Creek is a tiny bustling tourist hub 60km from Lake Eyre.
It is pretty much owned and run by Trevor Wright.
It is a multiskilled business where you start off doing tyre repairs, you're the publican
of the hotel, you're in charge of the water supply.
And occaisionally you get to fly aeroplanes, which is fantastic.
Trevor visited the Lake Eyre Basin 30 years ago and was hooked.
I just find it totally engaging. I think it is unique.
I am really passionate about people coming out and seeing it.
And today he's taking 7.30 for a spin - over the lake and up through the basin.
It is incredible, isn't it?
You look at the patterns and colours, and then you start to see the bird life come on
on top of it again, and actually have the whole system regenerate itself.
It is totally fascinating.
It has been years since Trevor has seen so much water here.
This is one of the world's most variable river systems, so protecting flows when they come
is paramount.
How important is it that the rivers of the Lake Eyre Basin remain unregulated that they
can run freely?
You cannot operate with the Lake Eyre Basin without having these flood events coming through.
Our first top is Cowarie, an organic cattle station on Warburton Creek in South Australia.
The creek is usually bone dry, but it is now a fully-fledged river with a yachting regatta,
thanks to the Queensland floods.
It means the world to us. It is a complete reversal. We would have sold off our cattle
by now on a fairly severe destock plan and now we have got a restock plan.
So you know, it is a complete game-changer, absolutely.
Grazier Craig Oldfield couldn't be happier.
It is just like magic - add water and it is green grass.
Cowarie has supported the Oldfields for eight decades - but after years of on-again, off-again
drought, the future of the families living here had been looking dodgy.
I know we are right for two years. We can make this work.
But this is how most of the country out here still looks.
The flood covered only one-fifth of Cowarie's 5,000 square kilometres.
Some of the neighbours without river frontage didn't get even a trickle.
Darryl Bell has brought his daughter's herd to Cowarie for a spell.
It has been a very hot summer and that really, really knocked our cattle around.
Between 50 and 60 degrees Celsius.
And we had that for about five weeks straight.
These people have got a flood and they have been very generous to help us.
It is a lifeline for the Bells, who would otherwise have to send their cattle to slaughter.
There was no way I was going to say no.
Craig says the idea of harvesting floodwater to help survive the dry times is enticing,
but not worth jeopardising the system.
The natural cycle of the system is probably enough for me at this point.
A bit more often would be nice, but we make do with what we have got.
Next door to Cowarie is Kalamurina Wildlife Sanctuary, a haven for nearly 250 species
of mammals, birds and reptiles.
The biggest thing is keeping ferals in check.
Mark McLaren manages the sanctuary for the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, which is
working to restore the ecosystem and natural waterways.
Yea, it is really good to see this.
Going paddling in the desert is always going to be special.
This is the fullest I have ever seen it.
But it is not just the size of the flood which has allowed this ephemeral lake on Kalamurina
to fill.
This lake is a perfect example of what happens when Lake Eyre Basin rivers are allowed to
run their course.
In previous floods, it hasn't filled because water was diverted to protect a road. But
with that barrier now gone, the results - well, you can see for yourself.
Without this system and the processes it has in place now, it won't be just the birds of
Kalamurna that would be affected, it'll be the birds from all over Australia.
If they can't come here to breed, where are they going to go?
The Lake Eyre Basin has always been an important breeding ground for water birds and fish,
but it has become more vital with the Murray-Darling's decline.
The lesson here is you need these rivers to run free, run unregulated and the way they are.
So, Don, this looks amazing.
It is. As this water dries back, you will get millions and and millions of these little fellas.
Don Rowlands is the chief ranger for Munga Thurri National Park in the Simpson desert,
west of Birdsville.
While the Basin's rivers are healthy now, he says there is no room for complacency.
Absolutely not. And for the people that live up and down these rivers, we are there to
support whatever we need to do to keep the rivers like they are.
Floods are welcomed in the Lake Eyre Basin, but life is not all beer and skittles when
they arrive and towns are cut off for weeks.
I don't think they will be driving into Bedourie in a hurry, looking at that road.
When we visit Bedourie, it is an island in a sea stretching to the horizon, courtesy
of the rain dumped upstream by Cyclone Trevor.
They would have enjoyed that.
Publican Jim Smith is used to flying in food and alcohol.
In a normal big flood like that, we are usually cut off for three months.
He gets a government subsidy to bring in essential items - which, surprisingly, doesn't include
booze.
They say it is not an essential item, but I think those people haven't been in Bedourie
when we have run out.
There are no visitors in Bedourie when we leave, but that will soon change as the water
makes its way towards the lake, as the tourists follow the birds in and the cycle of life,
boom-and-bust, starts again.
We are bloody lucky because we have got this system, it works well, it is fantastic for
the environment. It is great for people at the same time and it causes a unique event to
occur.
It proves that it can be done properly and there are fantastic outcomes.