Cropping & Soil
18 February, 2025
Recycled water boost for a leading grains research trial farm facility
The jointly funded project provides treatment for waste water.
One of the nation's most important broadacre cropping research centres at Horsham, in Victoria's Wimmera, will have access to more water resources for critical trial work.
The Horsham SmartFarm, located to the west of the city and run by Agriculture Victoria will have access to more water as part of the $11.8 million Horsham SmartWater project, which will recycle waste water from the local treatment plant to a standard where it can be used on crops as well as parks and gardens in the city, with a reverse osmosis plant providing water to the farm.
Victorian state ministers Gayle Tierney, minister for water and Ros Spence, minister for agriculture, announced the project's completion this week.
"Sustainable water supply at the Horsham SmartFarm means our researchers can expand their field crop trials and continue to deliver practical research that makes a difference for Victorian growers," Ms Spence said.
Purified wastewater will be used to irrigate more than 50 hectares of grain, oilseed and legume crops.
Along with agricultural benefits the project, funded jointly between the state and federal government, included construction of a new network of pipes through the city of Horsham, with connections to green spaces such as parks, ovals, the cemetery and the racecourse, providing up to 126 megalitres of recycled water for irrigation per year.