Bitter debate on salt

Article discusses the rehabilitation of salt-affected farmlands in Western Australia has developed into a battle for support between a big group of scientists and farmers. The Department of Agriculture has been accused of ignoring reality, with the group of farmers claiming that the department is not prepared to accept that practising farmers can come up with a solution that scientists have failed to find. The department says that it has scientific evidence to show that salt is forced up into the valley areas from depths below the surface, so that the banks cannot affect the situation. The department recommends in moderate or severely affected areas, the control of grazing, cultivation, and then the planting of salt-tolerant plants. In milder areas it suggests the control of flooding and waterlogging and the use of barley cropping as a control measure. The farmers have formed a group called, WISALTS for Whittington Interceptor salt-Affected Land Treatment Society and claim 538 financial members. Group founder, Mr. Tom Mills of Dangin, says that the cost of the banks is a small price to pay for rehabilitation of valuable land. Clive Malcolm, department research officer with the department says that with every valley where drilling work has been done, the indications are that salt moves at depths and comes to the surface in low spots. This article contains one photograph of Clive Malcolm standing in a paddock holding a display board. PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to provide a public view of this newspaper article as the copyright is held by the publisher of The West Australian. If you would like to obtain a copy of this newspaper article for research purposes, please ‘request a copy'. This article is part of the WISALTS (Whittington Interceptor Sustainable Agriculture Land Treatment Society Incorporated) Collection