Growers in the south of Western Australia are looking at an increasingly bleak future as a key local water source runs nearly dry.
Water levels in the Glen Mervyn Dam, 200 kilometres south of Perth, have dropped by more than 80 per cent over the past year to sit at just 0.13 gigalitres.
It has forced a complete ban on waterskiing, fishing and other residential activities.
But most critically, it has left local growers facing water-deficient seasons in the near future.
Temporary pause
Preston Valley Irrigation Co-operative, which purchases water sourced from the dam and on-sells to growers, told its members last month supplies would be run at the lowest possible level.
Co-op chairman James Fearnley said the dam was only 54 per cent full at the start of the summer season.
“We had a bit of an idea that we wouldn’t get through, the excessive hot weather meant people were irrigating more than normal,” Mr Fearnley said.
He said growers were increasingly concerned over where additional water could be sourced from.
“We are currently purchasing water from a private farm, meaning there’s an increase in costs but not on this year’s water price,” Mr Fearnley said.
Looking ahead
Sam Licciardello, one of many growers impacted by the water shortage, grows apples, pears and stone fruit on his Donnybrook orchard.
“We did expect an issue this year. Being such a long, dry and windy summer we all knew it could be a possibility,” Mr Licciardello said.
“The co-op has put a back-up in place to keep us going for the season.”
His main concern was what would happen next summer.
“It’s going to put all the growing areas in the Donnybrook to Collie region, which is a lot of fruit, in a very difficult situation,” he said.
“I’d like to say we are going to get a good winter. But the forecast is not looking good.”
Flow-on effect
Mr Licciardello said water quality had also reduced as a result of the lower supply.
“You have to do a flush, because the salt content and iron content was high; but we didn’t have the [dam] volume to clean the river,” he said.
“If you go down to the Preston River, it’s not special.”
Despite the shortage of water, Mr Licciardello said he didn’t suffer any production loss.
“We could of watered a bit more but I’ve got back-up systems,” he said.
“But it doesn’t matter how savvy you are with your watering, if the elements are against you, there is only so much you can do.
Future-proofing farms
Associate professor of hydrology at the University of WA Sally Thompson said now was the time for growers to plan to “future-proof” their productions.
“You have to innovate rather than to be conservative, you need to plan with the expectation the future will be hotter, and drier,” Ms Thompson said.
“It might mean adopting new technologies. We’re really interested in things like solar panels over horticulture.”
