Dealing with salinity in Wheatbelt Valleys - Department of Water

with Salinity in Wheatbelt Valleys Conference
Dealing
Prospects and Practical Options
Processes,
Our shared vision needs to be shared!
Drainage may be a part of that vision as an option. Until we know if drainage is an option then we need to continue
to support other options.
Could existing groups be less exclusive – more inclusive please.
The assets of the Wheatbelt valleys must be seen as an asset.
GENERAL COMMENTS (FROM ‘POSTBOX’)
I think that all speakers were of good quality and had valuable contributions to make. However, I feel there should
have been a greater emphasis on new thinking to solve the problems confronting the wheat belt. Much of the content
was in well-known subject areas of hydrology and salinity. From 9 am onwards (with the exception of F Frost and D
Pannell) there were four speakers on various aspects of hydrology and salinity. I am sure everyone learnt a thing or
two new from each, but I do not think they challenged our thinking with new information to solve the problems from a
new perspective.
For example, if new enterprises are to be successful, it will require a great deal of passion and commitment from all
involved especially the farmers. I would like to have listened to one (or tow short) presentation from someone who
has started a new enterprise eg wine industry and could demonstrate passion and commitment. Preferably a woman
because they are normally better at showing the passion to others, but could be a female and male tag team.
Next, I would like to have heard a top rate marketing person talking about what is necessary to successfully market
primary products. Annimac (the Futurist) touched on this, but more time should have been spent on this because it is
a topic that most farmers know little about and are uncomfortable with. This is some of the new thinking. Further, it
would have been good to link the experiences of the marketer and the passion and commitment speakers.
The marketer could have presented a successful model for the introduction of a new enterprise. John Bartle got
close with the oil mallee model, but I think it was too distant from most farmers for them to relate to.
Finally, what about some more information on the Triple Bottom Line? Look on www for examples.
Financial
Environment
Social and Cultural
Let’s hear from some organisations and consultants who are grappling with what it means and have some discussion
about how their experience can benefit country people.
Well worth my coming over from South Australia. Useful information, challenging discussion, great contacts,
excellent organising and good food. Well done 10 out of 10.
Look forward to ongoing links with Western Australian farmers and agency people. I’ll be back.
Thank you for telling us what we already knew.
A much better outcome would be to brief us on were all the salinity and NHT money has been wasted.
What we need is an output measure on all money that is being spent, with an audit of all monies spent.
Thanks for the talk by the futurist. Boy did that make the trip worthwhile NOT!
Excellent conference – could a list of delegates be made available, wither on the web or some other way? Thanks.