• What is the OPUS database?
• Who is the database for?
• How do I use the database?
• How was the case study information collected?
• Contact
• Disclaimer
• Acknowledgements

What is the OPUS database?

Options for the Productive Use of Salinity (OPUS) was a project funded by the National Dryland Salinity Program (NDSP). The project's aim was to identify and assess a range of potentially productive industries able to use saline land or saline water (in particular, saline groundwater resources).

Across Australia and the world, it is possible to find examples of individuals and organisations discovering ways to use saline land and water, and thereby minimise environmental degradation caused by dryland salinity, and make a profit at the same time.

The OPUS database brings many of these examples together in the form of a 'case study' database. Various case studies of innovative saline industries have been included on the database. The projects stem from scientific research projects, single landholder initiatives, cooperatives, government-funded programs and agribusiness ventures.

Go to the OPUS Database

Who is the database for?

The database is for anyone who is affected by dryland salinity, wants to invest in alternative industries or is interested in approaching salinity from an alternative farming systems perspective.

The information contained in the OPUS database is intended to stimulate your interest in saline industries, whether you are a landholder concerned about salinity, an extension officer, an agribusiness investor, a representative of a catchment group, a researcher or a policy maker. The database also provides a starting point for your own research into options for the productive uses of saline land and water.

How do I use the database?

All of the case studies in the database are listed under five industry categories, as part of a tiered classification system. Similarly, all the case studies are allocated to second level categories within each industry. Both the Level 1 and Level 2 industry categories are presented below.

To view the case studies for a specific industry (e.g. forestry and horticulture) select the desired Level 1 category. A list of the Level 2 industries will then be displayed.

When selecting the desired Level 2 category, you will be presented with a further list of detailed categories (Level 3 industries) through which you will be able to view a list of case study titles. To view the details of individual case studies (i.e. Contact information, technical summary) simply select a case study title of interest.

Individual case studies can be printed as formatted 'project' sheets.

You can jump back to the main screen at any time by selecting the 'return to main menu' or 'restart' links, or simply use the 'back' buttons on each page.

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Categories of saline industries within the OPUS database

Within each case study, a description of the region and level of development is provided. The database 'region' describes the approximate area in which the saline industry for a particular case study has been researched or adopted. The level of development indicates the extent to which a particular saline industry has been researched, trialed, developed, marketed or adopted.

Level of Development Categories

• Laboratory Research
• Field Trials
• Commercial Trials
• Single Landholder Initiative
• Government Program
• Industry Program
• Initial Product Marketing and Development
• Limited Landholker (On-Ground) Adoption
• Widespread Landholder (On-ground) Adoption

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How was the case study information collected?

Most of the information contained in the OPUS database is publicly accessible and has been extracted from scientific papers, periodicals, websites, conference proceedings, and other general publications. For a minority of case studies, information has been obtained through direct personal communication with a case study proponent.

Where possible, PPK Environment & Infrastructure (PPK) have provided references, web addresses and/or general Contact details for the benefit of users. Where information has been obtained directly from case study proponents permission has been sought to display the proponent's Contact details on the OPUS database.

Please note that information on each case study is readily available to the public in other independent forms, and their inclusion in the OPUS database is not indicative of any endorsement by the OPUS project or the National Dryland Salinity Program.

Contact

You are invited to submit the OPUS Database Feedback Form to:

Bruce Munday
Clear Connections
Post: PO BOX 375 Mt Torrens 5244
Ph: (08) 8387075
Fax: (08) 8387075
Email: bruce@clearconnections.com.au

All feedback will be collated by Clear Connections and submitted to the National Dryland Salinity Program for review and, where appropriate, follow-up response.

Disclaimer

PPK Environment and Infrastructure Pty Ltd and the National Dryland Salinity Program do not endorse any of the concepts, products or services contained within the database.

In addition, PPK Environment and Infrastructure Pty Ltd and the National Dryland Salinity Program do not warrant the accuracy of the information contained within the database and shall bear no responsibility or liability whatsoever for any errors, faults or omissions in the information. Any persons using the information contained herein do so at their own risk.

Acknowledgements

The OPUS database has been the culmination of hundreds of hours work involving several PPK staff members who have formed an important part of the OPUS project team. On behalf of the National Dryland Salinity Program, Stephanie Bolt (Project Manager, PPK Environment and Infrastructure) and Phil Dyson (Technical Director, Phil Dyson and Associates) would like to acknowledge the contribution of the following people:

• Nathan Zeman
• Hannah Ellyard
• Cliff Seery
• Natasha Hall