I was given a personal tour of the Chairman of Irrigation's property (Riverina). The amazing ability of Satellites for starters, and the ability to 're-use' water upon 'gradiented' lands (pumped back up to 'flow down' through the soil).

Just one of many examples around the world that give a consistent use of water on land for farming.

There are many factors involved - like not stripping 'hills' of their Trees for starters (promotes 'weathering', erosion and too fast water run-off, etc).

The main fact is that Australia NEEDS to turn the interior into a vast irrigated and water infused system of provision.
Maybe 'Westernised' Australians don't have the capability to cope with such a responsibility (beyond Politics  ), let alone don't have the mental capacity to achieve such a thing. But the Interior will one day change to 'provide' and become a Garden/Oasis/Irrigation Rural setup.
Even a Canal draining the excess of Monsoon in the Northern Territory down through the interior and into drought stricken (because they cut all their trees down  ) South Australia is a good start.

Not allowing 'farms' to edge onto waterways where livestock ruin the quality of waterways - turning them from crystal clear to muddy-turgid affairs. Yep - just 200 years ago, you could see the bottom of the Murray River, let alone the inlets of the Pittwater system.

If 'Westernised' Australians don't or can't do it. Then they should step aside and let others achieve more than just Politics in this country.

For those wondering what can be done about the salt content of the soil, there are efforts being conducted by Greening Australia to use salt tolerant plants (Saltgrow) to reverse the high soil salinity and make the areas viable for cultivation (again). Though the planting and growing of these plants takes time and patience, the pay off is worthwhile. Unfortunately, it would take generations of volunteer strong efforts to do the widest area of land possible. This to make people 50 years in the future be able to plant in desperate times of food shortage in areas we could not grow food today. It seems like a fantasy. I would assume that the efforts to reverse soil salinity would be limited to the areas where pastoralists and graziers can feasibly use.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jan 19^th, 2018 at 10:50pm:



Wouldn't the FIRST step be to see if it is viable? That there is saline water under the lake?

Apparently not; spend the money the water will come.

miketrees wrote on Jan 20^th, 2018 at 9:15pm:



yes, I see trees as being the critical factor here.

Counterintuitive that to lower the water table is beneficial.

Some good comments being added.

https://industry.gov.au/resource/Documents/radioactive_waste/hydrogeological_ass...

Appears Roxby downs/Andamooka has a water table close to the surface, is quite salty and has an underground flow towards there.

that sort of area can be the area to pump underground salty water from and direct it to the ocean in SA.
Not too far away.

use solar power for the water pumps, they'll run 8 hours a day.

http://theconversation.com/water-in-water-out-assessing-the-future-of-the-great-...

the great artesian basin may not go far south enough to reach Roxby downs/Andamooka/Lake Torrens

The Great Artesian Basin is a finite source of water. It's been said that is has been 'half used up' already. I wouldn't be surprised.

Trees create 'shade'. Shade protect worms and other critters that reinvigorate the soil. Proven fact. Giant 'shade cloths' are a Sci-Fi concept, but sum up what's needed if you want 'fertile' soil.
Forests create a 'cooling' effect under the canopy for starters.
South Americans used minor canal systems - where the moisture from the water would 'water' the surrounding crops during the night and hence why they could do such massive crops back then.
Constant 'ducting' of the Water Canals would create a constant 'movement' of water to prevent things going 'stagnant'.

...basically, if 'we' can't turn the interior of Australia into a 'Garden' - then we've got 'buckleys' of habitat/terraforming other planets (like Mars for starters).
You either start here, right now - or just forget it!
If 'Western' culture can't do it, then follow the advice of other cultures that can.
Even now, West Africans are creating a 'Great Tree Wall' against the onset of the Sahara desert and ...its working in a small way with its early beginning.

I wouldn't rely too heavily on the CSIRO. They've been responsible for a few stuff-ups and are chiefly hamstrung by Political fundings.
Hell, they sacked some Dutch guy who 'cured' Farmer's lands of 'chemical sterilisation' a foot deep (due to years of using chemicals/pesticides/etc) ...because he didn't conform to their 'Political' control policies.
Twats! Basically. 
CSIRO is great in some respects, but its also a control freak that thinks 'science' is the answer to everything - only!
Putting PACU Piranha in a Papuan River system is just another of their crazy efforts of 'short term' answers due to Govt fundings.

Anyway - keep the dream alive.
Keep looking for the