Water study to unlock Peel agriculture jobs

Wednesday, 27 September 2017 09:38

By Kathy Koutzas

A new study will investigate innovative ways to capture and store water in a bid to boost agriculture jobs in the Peel region.

The Federal Government has announced the job-creating Transform Peel project has broken ground at Nambeelup with a study into an innovative water management system now underway.

The managed aquifer recharge study could help secure long-term water supplies for intensive agriculture for Transform Peel’s Peel Food Zone and adjacent Peel Business Park.

The study will assess how stormwater can be captured and stored in a deep aquifer during winter, and then accessed for irrigated agriculture in summer.

Regional Development and Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said agricultural developments in peri-urban areas - such as the Peel Food Zone - present fantastic opportunities for regional job creation and to meet demand from export markets.

“Ready access to water will help to bring investment in intensive agricultural projects to the Peel Food Zone and drive new long-term employment opportunities.

“Transform Peel is expected to create thousands of long-term jobs in the region, and this study marks the first works on the ground.”

Water Minister Dave Kelly said the State’s south-west water resources are being hammered by the impacts of climate change.

"To grow sustainable agriculture jobs and opportunities in the Peel region, we need to be innovative in finding water management options to respond to the impacts of climate change.

"Managed aquifer recharge is a strategic option that could provide climate-independent long-term, high volume water storage for future needs."

The drilling contractor is local company, Darling Downs Drilling