Publication Date

4-2026

Publisher

State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development)

City

Perth

Abstract

The Wheatbelt is a vast agricultural region in southwestern Western Australia, covering approximately 25 million hectares, of which 17 million are cleared. It is a key contributor to the state’s economy, supporting broadacre grain production, livestock (such as sheep, beef, and pigs) grazing, mixed farming, and numerous small rural communities. However, decades of extensive land clearing for agriculture have significantly altered the natural hydrological balance. These changes have disrupted local water cycles, increased recharge post-clearing, increased evaporation, and contributed to widespread soil salinity.

Compounding these land-use impacts, the region has also experienced a long-term drying trend due to climate change. Rainfall has declined, and dry seasons have become longer and more frequent, placing immense pressure on surface water and groundwater resources. During recent drought periods, such as between 2018–2020, water scarcity reached critical levels—over 75% of small private farm dams in the southern Wheatbelt dried up, severely affecting agriculture, livestock, and rural communities. Despite the drying trends, saline water tables continue to rise across the landscape, creating a vast, currently untapped water resource that offers unique opportunities for salt-tolerant industries or desalination technologies.

To address the ongoing water crises, a range of conventional and unconventional water exploration and development programs, including trialling RO desalination projects, have been initiated. Since 2021, a major program has been underway to develop more resilient water supply options across the Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions.

Number of Pages

52

Keywords

desalination, waste-stream management, brine management, best available technology (BAT), reverse osmosis, waste management

Disciplines

Natural Resources and Conservation | Water Resource Management

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