The Diversified Farmland Income project is progressing well with recent activities offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of integrating renewable energy generation within WA farming systems and regional economies.
A survey of 40 growers has shed light on the opportunities and challenges of wind turbine projects in the region. Growers emphasised the benefits of a collective approach to negotiations, highlighting room for better terms and fairer outcomes. However, concerns persist over strained relationships with neighbours, limited state government communication, and impacts associated with construction on local roads and housing. Financial motivations, such as debt reduction and succession planning, remain key drivers for participation, but hesitancy stems from skepticism about environmental benefits and reliance on taxpayer subsidies. A strong need for accessible, detailed information was identified, with suggestions for developing a resource to guide growers and local governments through these complex proposals.
The project team will be moving into the second phase of the project, which focuses on sustainability analysis. This will involve an economic assessment to evaluate the viability of integrating renewable energy projects into agricultural businesses, alongside analysing social impacts and environmental resilience.
This project is led by Farmanco and supported by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
