Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The horticultural industry in Wanneroo is facing severe water shortages, with the Department of Water indicating that no additional groundwater licences will be allocated for agricultural purposes and, in some cases, water allocations will be reduced. The area contributes 38 per cent of the total gross value of agricultural commodities produced in the Perth region, including 97 per cent of tomatoes, 92 per cent of avocados and 78 per cent of strawberries. Currently, many fruit and vegetable growers of the region are forced to cease production for part of the year, leaving fields idle, due to reaching their maximum water allocation.

It is critical for governments at all levels to work with the growers to introduce alternative water sources and more efficient irrigation techniques, including using recycled wastewater from the nearby Alkimos Wastewater Treatment Plant to irrigate crops rather than discharging the treated water into the ocean. While studies indicate that this is a more costly option than using existing groundwater supplies, it may be an economically viable option for long-term sustainability of the horticultural industry in Wanneroo when the economic impact of distance to market is taken into account. The horticultural industry in Wanneroo is vital to the economy of our region, and I call upon the federal government to urgently address the water security issues for our local growers. (Time expired)