@paintsew007 wrote:
to am3
ref
Where would the water come from to irrigate in the desert?
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I used to work with/knew a woman who worked for Hugall and Hoile ....many years back.
She worked for several years over in Saudi irrigating their desert to grow fruit and veg.
She told me that Australia is just one huge artesian bore.....and same can be easily done here.
There is some truth to this. There are huge ( absolutely enormous ) reserves of water under much of the desert areas. The problem with much of this water, is that it is too saline for growing vegetables. I currently own an irrigation licence and come from an area where desert country has already been succesfully converted to irrigation. It has provided a boost to employment and increased land values.
Many of the growers have major problems with Coles and Woolies driving the price below cost of production. The supermarkets will import the vegies from Europe, NZ, South America etc. where they can be grown on natural rainfall ( no pumping costs ) with cheaper labour and favourable exchange rates.
Fracking is a major concern, with the current government allowing its mining mates to ruin the natural enviroment for ever ( and farmers livelihoods ) for the sake of a few energy dollars.
Another problem is that any project which shows any potential is promptly sold off, land and all to the highest international bidder, with all profits going overseas. ( and employees coming in on 457 work visas )
There has to be a better way than the disjointed, fragmented policies we currently have on these sorts of issues.
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