Agricultural Water Demand for the North Queensland Region and Potential Impacts due to Climate Change
Service: Proposed irrigation review
Client: Synergies Economic Consulting
Location: North Queensland
Start: May 2020
Completion: October 2020
Verterra undertook detailed spatial analysis to support a consistent economic comparison of crops across irrigation developments proposed to Sunwater and the Qld Department of Natural Resources.
Sunwater and Qld Department of Natural Resources are faced with numerous proposals for irrigation development. Variation in the basis for economic, agronomic and yield assumptions between regions renders meaningful comparison of relative crop competitiveness in each region impossible.
Verterra undertook a review to define the potential geographic location of five proposed irrigation developments and provide Synergies with defensible and consistent agronomic information on crop suitability, water demand, relative yield, and potential effect of climate change.
Eight high value crops suited to the region, spanning a range of crop types was identified and agreed with the ultimate client, Sunwater.
Parameters influencing crop suitability and land capability were identified from a combination of referenced literature and practical experience. Soil and climate factors affecting yield were collated to enable mapping of potential variation. All data was then assessed by GIS analysis using spatial data sets for soil and climate factors to map: (i) the extent of land in each irrigation region suitable for each crop; (ii) the spatial variation in expected yield; and (iii) the projected effect of climate change on future yield and land suitability. Water demand was assessed by modelling.
