How bad is the townsite salinity problem in WA?
Salinity is recognised as one of the most urgent environmental threats facing Western Australia. Approximately 1.8 million hectares in the south-west agricultural region are already affected, with the potential to increase to over 6 million hectares. Townsite salinity destroys infrastructure such as roads, public buildings and bridges as well as causing houses to crumble and contaminating water supplies. While often overlooked, townsite salinity is just as serious as farmland salinity. Rapid, large-scale intervention is required to combat the problem. The Rural Towns Program is addressing the problem by providing rural communities with strategies to combat the increasing problem of townsite salinity.
