River of Dreams

River of Dreams is a documentary which tells of the first phase of a clash between government backed developers and com munities in the Kimberley region in north western Australia over confl icting ideas about land use. The locals are trying to save their
environment from being transformed by a multimillion dollar proposal to grow vast amounts of genetically engineered cotton in the beautiful, almost pristine land of the Kimberley. The Karajarri people are concerned about the impact of chemicals on the land, and that ground water supplies will be depleted, as growing cotton requires an enormous amount of water. There is opposition in Fitzroy Crossing to the possible damming of the Fitzroy River, an important part of inland culture and a signifi cant source of food, through fi shing. The Broome com munity, situated between the two smaller communities, is also concerned. The natural environment supports one of the largest industries in Broome – tourism.