Recycled Water

Ms VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:28): I rise today to speak about a very important issue to the horticulturalists in my electorate and the state: access to water. The Northern Adelaide Plains region has the largest concentrations of horticultural activities in southern Australia and adds around $350 million to the economy of South Australia. The horticultural growers in the region are broken into two main production groups from around 3,000 grower businesses, with 1,300 of these being glasshouse/polyhouse production systems and the remainder being broadacre vegetable growers and orchardists.

All of this activity relies on a strong background of water infrastructure, whether that be through the mains system, rainwater capture, the Bolivar pipeline system of recycled water or using groundwater from the local aquifers. We are very lucky to have high quality water in our aquifers, water that many horticulturalists take advantage of for commercial and residential purposes in the Northern Adelaide Plains.

However, the growing region has capacity to expand beyond the areas south of the Gawler River, but in order for this to happen recycled water pipelines need to be extended further north to open up new land to horticultural production. Local growers in the area, including industry group Hortex Alliance, strongly support the development of existing pipelines in the Northern Adelaide Plains. It is an issue I have advocated for my constituents in the past and will do so in the future. You only have to go and have a coffee at Goldie's Café in Virginia and listen to local chatter from local farmers and businesses to hear what they think of the issue.

Our horticulture industry is growing at a very robust pace. There are great signs of hope. There is a long-term strategic goal to grow the industry's farm gate value from $350 million to $500 million. Minister Bignell has recently sent letters to federal agriculture minister, minister Barnaby Joyce, to seek the commonwealth's support for this $170 million project, and I will do the same on behalf of my constituency.

This project has the capacity to create more productivity, more jobs and more opportunities in the Northern Adelaide Plains at a time when all of these things are very much required. It is a proposal that is based on proven business models and established technology. There is even potential locally, nationally and internationally for investors interested in the proposal to get involved. All of this ties in particular to the government's 10 economic priorities, such as priority 2, to have premium food and wine produced in our clean environment and exported to the world, something many growers in my electorate are actively doing, but wish to do more of.

An expanded water recycling system would also fit within the South Australian government's recently released directions paper, 'A shared vision for northern Adelaide', which highlights the potential for growth and employment in the region after the automotive industry exits.