A WA parliamentary question addresses the suitability of Area D in Middle Swan and Herne Hill for commercial viticulture, finding it generally unsuitable due to soil conditions, with only a small percentage potentially viable and requiring a minimum lot size of 10 hectares.

AnsweredQoN 942Legislative Council
Asked
10 November 2004
Portfolio
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the Swan Valley Planning Act area, and ask - (1) Is area D in Middle Swan and Herne Hill suitable for commercial viticulture? (2) What percentage of area D in Middle Swan and Herne Hill is suitable for commercial viticulture? (3) What is the estimated minimum lot size needed for commercial viticulture to be financially viable in this area? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Jim Scott for some notice of this question. (1) Area D mainly involves the soil types described as mongin sands. These soils are shallow, tend to be waterlogged in the winter and are often associated with poor quality or low volumes of irrigation water. As a result, area D is not regarded as suitable for commercial viticulture. (2) The land in area D that is suitable for commercial viticulture is estimated to be less than 10 per cent. A detailed study of soil maps and current land use would be needed to give more specific figures. (3) A minimum of 10 hectares would be needed to produce a viable unit.
(1) Is area D in Middle Swan and Herne Hill suitable for commercial viticulture? (2) What percentage of area D in Middle Swan and Herne Hill is suitable for commercial viticulture? (3) What is the estimated minimum lot size needed for commercial viticulture to be financially viable in this area? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Jim Scott for some notice of this question. (1) Area D mainly involves the soil types described as mongin sands. These soils are shallow, tend to be waterlogged in the winter and are often associated with poor quality or low volumes of irrigation water. As a result, area D is not regarded as suitable for commercial viticulture. (2) The land in area D that is suitable for commercial viticulture is estimated to be less than 10 per cent. A detailed study of soil maps and current land use would be needed to give more specific figures. (3) A minimum of 10 hectares would be needed to produce a viable unit.
(2) What percentage of area D in Middle Swan and Herne Hill is suitable for commercial viticulture? (3) What is the estimated minimum lot size needed for commercial viticulture to be financially viable in this area? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Jim Scott for some notice of this question. (1) Area D mainly involves the soil types described as mongin sands. These soils are shallow, tend to be waterlogged in the winter and are often associated with poor quality or low volumes of irrigation water. As a result, area D is not regarded as suitable for commercial viticulture. (2) The land in area D that is suitable for commercial viticulture is estimated to be less than 10 per cent. A detailed study of soil maps and current land use would be needed to give more specific figures. (3) A minimum of 10 hectares would be needed to produce a viable unit.
(3) What is the estimated minimum lot size needed for commercial viticulture to be financially viable in this area? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Jim Scott for some notice of this question. (1) Area D mainly involves the soil types described as mongin sands. These soils are shallow, tend to be waterlogged in the winter and are often associated with poor quality or low volumes of irrigation water. As a result, area D is not regarded as suitable for commercial viticulture. (2) The land in area D that is suitable for commercial viticulture is estimated to be less than 10 per cent. A detailed study of soil maps and current land use would be needed to give more specific figures. (3) A minimum of 10 hectares would be needed to produce a viable unit.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Jim Scott for some notice of this question. (1) Area D mainly involves the soil types described as mongin sands. These soils are shallow, tend to be waterlogged in the winter and are often associated with poor quality or low volumes of irrigation water. As a result, area D is not regarded as suitable for commercial viticulture. (2) The land in area D that is suitable for commercial viticulture is estimated to be less than 10 per cent. A detailed study of soil maps and current land use would be needed to give more specific figures. (3) A minimum of 10 hectares would be needed to produce a viable unit.
I thank Hon Jim Scott for some notice of this question. (1) Area D mainly involves the soil types described as mongin sands. These soils are shallow, tend to be waterlogged in the winter and are often associated with poor quality or low volumes of irrigation water. As a result, area D is not regarded as suitable for commercial viticulture. (2) The land in area D that is suitable for commercial viticulture is estimated to be less than 10 per cent. A detailed study of soil maps and current land use would be needed to give more specific figures. (3) A minimum of 10 hectares would be needed to produce a viable unit.
(1) Area D mainly involves the soil types described as mongin sands. These soils are shallow, tend to be waterlogged in the winter and are often associated with poor quality or low volumes of irrigation water. As a result, area D is not regarded as suitable for commercial viticulture. (2) The land in area D that is suitable for commercial viticulture is estimated to be less than 10 per cent. A detailed study of soil maps and current land use would be needed to give more specific figures. (3) A minimum of 10 hectares would be needed to produce a viable unit.
(2) The land in area D that is suitable for commercial viticulture is estimated to be less than 10 per cent. A detailed study of soil maps and current land use would be needed to give more specific figures. (3) A minimum of 10 hectares would be needed to produce a viable unit.
(3) A minimum of 10 hectares would be needed to produce a viable unit.

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