05-05-2000

Dryland salinity, well recognised as a rural problem, is also causing major headaches for many Australian cities and towns.

Shallow saline groundwater is affecting roads, parks, sewage pipes, and building foundations.

According to Queensland Department of Natural Resources salinity expert, Ian Gordon, damage to infrastructure caused by salinity is costing Australia an estimated $100 million a year.

'Saline water and high water tables are also causing structural damage to houses, hot water systems and household appliances,' Mr Gordon said.

'Other hidden costs of urban salinity incurred by householders are through increased use of soaps, detergents and water conditioners, and loss of property values.'

Mr Gordon said that while the extent of dryland salinity in Queensland's urban communities was unknown, there were areas causing concern to councils.

'Some councils are experiencing problems in rural subdivisions located on saline drainage lines and salt scalds,' he said.

'Another challenge provided by shallow saline water is maintaining grass cover on golf courses and sporting grounds in some areas.'

Mr Gordon said as with all salinity management, prevention was better than cure.

'A lesson can be learnt from the experience of Wagga Wagga in New South Wales where the tell-tale signs were not recognised until there was a major problem,' he said.

'In this case, local government spent $500,000 a year repairing salinity damage and have allocated $3 million over the next three years to deal with their urban salinity problems.'

Dealing with urban salinity in Queensland is complex and varied.

Eastern Downs Region of Councils (EDROC) manager, John Hastead, said that addressing natural resource issues, such as urban salinity, was difficult for councils which did not have environmental departments.

'As a consequence, partnerships are required with state agencies and local governments to manage these problems,' Mr Hastead said.

'While our member councils have not had any problems with urban salinity as yet, rising salt levels in water supplies may be a future issue where groundwater is relied on for supplies.'

Mr Hastead said rising watertables were causing Kingaroy Shire Council concern with damage to some roads, sewerage lines and water pipes, as well as increasing salt levels in water supplies.

Kingaroy Shire Council deputy director of Engineering Services, Jim Barton, said the major salinity problem facing the Council was occurring outside the urban area, in the catchment of the dam supplying the town's drinking water.

'The higher the watertable rises, the worse water quality we get and this threatens the supply of drinking water to the community,' Mr Barton said.

Mr Barton said the Council's main way of addressing the problem was by supporting integrated catchment management projects in the Shire and working with landcare groups and catchment care associations on tree-planting projects to help lower the watertable.

In Queensland's south-east, Boonah Shire Council has had dryland salinity problems in the past with a rising watertable affecting the showgrounds and sporting ovals in wetter years.

Boonah Shire director of Works and Technical Services, Patrick Murphy, said the problem was solved, at a cost, by installing subsurface drainage and a windmill.

'Urban salinity is currently not a major concern for the Boonah Shire, mainly because we have had a drought for the last few years. However, we do have few small rural dryland salinity problem areas which we are monitoring,' Mr Murphy said.

For further information please contact:

Please contact Land & Water Australia
Email: land&wateraustralia@lwa.gov.au
Phone: 02 6263 6000