Prime Development Zones
| Three Prime Development Zones (PDZs) have been identified as potential areas for irrigated agriculture using water supplied from the Western Treatment Plant. These were determined using a systematic method to eliminate inappropriate areas from development; apply land capability assessment to available areas, and evaluate the environmental risks associated with irrigation development. The PDZs include existing irrigation areas near Werribee. Although 3 PDZs have been delineated, other land may also exist with the potential to support irrigated agriculture in the region. PDZ boundaries are simple, following in most cases obvious topographic features such as roads that run near or adjacent to mapped soil boundaries. |
Production risks are considered to be low in the PDZs if best management practices are applied and development is concentrated on the most favourable soil types. From a hydrogeological perspective, WDPDZ3 is of high to moderate risk and requires further investigation to manage and prevent groundwater problems. In terms of environmental risks, most of the PDZs are considered a moderate risk as they contain environmental assets of greater than regional significance.
The evaluation of land for determination of PDZs was a desktop study using available published information on land and soil quality. Most of the existing maps have insufficient detail to be used for property-based irrigation planning - so expert judgement has been applied largely as an exercise in interpretation and extrapolation. As the spatial variability of soils in PDZs is inherently high, PDZs will contain land of mixed capability for irrigated agriculture. Detailed soil survey for irrigation suitability will be needed to advocate and progress any specific irrigation development within the PDZs.
© The State of Victoria, 1996 - 2012.
This document was last reviewed on 30/12/2008