South Australian water utility SA Water is seeking project proposals from agribusinesses across Australia and internationally for the use of recycled water for advanced horticulture and high-tech food production north of Adelaide.
12 gigalitres (GL) a year of high quality recycled water from SA Water's largest metropolitan wastewater treatment plant will be made available through the Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme (NAIS).
SA Water's General Manager of Strategy, Performance and Innovation Jim McGuire said the NAIS brings a once in a generation opportunity to secure a reliable and long-term supply of climate and season-independent water.
"The aim is to use this water to develop a new agri-food precinct across 3000 hectares of the Northern Adelaide Plains, which will supply booming export markets in Asia and across the world," Jim said.
"South Australia, and the Northern Adelaide Plains in particular, offers a clean Mediterranean climate with a range of soil types."
"Water through the scheme is suitable for horticulture, floriculture, fruit and nut orchards, table and wine grapes, high-value broad-acre cropping, poultry and other intensive animal husbandry, and aquaculture."
"Key advantages for project proponents include ready access to a trained horticulture workforce with advanced skills, as well as international road, rail, sea, and air logistics, infrastructure and services."
"The project is a great opportunity to drive investment, employment growth, and export earnings. Project proposals will be evaluated for their contribution to Gross Domestic Product, including investment value, export revenues and job creation."
The $155.6 million scheme is being jointly funded by the South Australian and Australian Governments, and developed in partnership by SA Water and Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA).
Government funding of the scheme will go towards upgrades to the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant, advanced water treatment technology, a pressurised transmission pipeline and distribution network.
All NAIS customers will be required to make a one-off capital contribution, pay annual service and consumption charges, and will also be responsible for on-farm infrastructure.
Construction of the scheme is expected to begin in early 2018, with the first water delivered in 2019.
The first round of project proposals will close on 15 November, with successful proponents to be announced in the following months. Round two will close on 28 February 2018.
For full details on the scheme, project proposal forms and guidelines, people can visit the SA Tenders and Contracts website.
For more information:
www.sawater.com.au/current-projects/nais




Announcements
Job Offers
- Grower
- Senior Agronomist/Horticulturist and Agronomy/Horticulture Manager
- Growers & Assistant Growers
- Plant Biologist
- Ripening Officer Bananas / Exotics
- Grower and Nurser
- Farm Manager
- Floriculture Production Planning Manager
- Agricultural Mechanic / Crop Sprayer Operator
- Technical Services Manager
"Tweeting Growers"
Top 5 -yesterday
- UV light signals program plants to unlock their genetic potential
- Redwire to develop first commercial space greenhouse
- Belarus: Plans to build unique greenhouse complex in Brest Oblast
- How do horticultural crops defend themselves against fungal pathogens?
- Plant molecular geneticists discover, and begin to crack, the epigenetic code
Top 5 -last week
- Top tips for growing lettuce in a greenhouse
- New packaging for hydroponic fertilizer launched
- UK: Grower reduces greenhouse temperature by more than 6°C during heatwave with no cooling, fog systems
- Taking the wisdom from indoor farming and bringing it into greenhouses
- "Kawaguchi tomato variety good option for consumer, but also good for the grower"
Top 5 -last month
Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:
- 2022-08-17 UK drought: are farmers facing the crop failures of 1976 all over again?
- 2022-08-17 US (KY): Something's fishy in Shelbyville: Farm using aquaponics to produce lettuce
- 2022-08-16 These growers serve up fresh foods to Augusta restaurants
- 2022-08-16 Hydroponics & citrus farming
- 2022-08-15 New tool helps strengthen local food systems
- 2022-08-12 US (OR): Research shows that plastic tunnels are very good for strawberries
- 2022-08-12 Agave: The new drought-tolerant California crop?
- 2022-08-12 Trinidad and Tobago: Hydroponic farm offers more economic opportunities than fish production
- 2022-08-11 US: How the climate deal would help farmers aid the environment
- 2022-08-10 Top tips for growing lettuce in a greenhouse
- 2022-08-09 "Drought will affect economy, not food supply"
- 2022-08-09 Uganda: Soilless farming highlights Kabale Farm Clinic
- 2022-08-09 Regulation of fleshy fruit ripening: From transcription factors to epigenetic modifications
- 2022-08-09 Mapping fruit characteristics faster with vision and AI
- 2022-08-08 Growing fruits and vegetables on the roof of the MIN in Toulouse
- 2022-08-08 Covered cultivation extends soft fruit season
- 2022-08-08 Pink and White strawberries soon to hit Aussie market
- 2022-08-08 "Fulvic acid encourages optimal growth in all plant phases"
- 2022-07-22 US (VA): Inside the Goochland greenhouse trying to create the freshest lettuce in town
- 2022-07-22 Powering plant growth with solar instead of photosynthesis more efficient?