New growers invited to join water scheme

New growers are invited to a special farmer showcase on how recycled water is helping secure the future of agriculture in Moreton Bay.

The Wamuran Irrigation Scheme Farmer Showcase is on Wednesday October 21 in Caboolture, hosted by Unitywater and City of Moreton Bay.

Growers can learn about the scheme which provides year-round, climate-independent Class A recycled water to support food production and irrigation.

There will also be industry experts, local farming leaders and current participants sharing how recycled water is helping secure the future of agriculture in the region.

Taps were turned in March 2025, using recycled water from Caboolture South Wastewater Treatment Plant for agriculture and to reduce nutrient discharges to Caboolture River.

Unitywater Executive Manager Customer Delivery Rhett Duncan said growers connected to the scheme had a reliable supply of high-quality Class A recycled water.

“For growers, access to a secure, climate-independent water source provides the confidence to invest, plan for the future and extend production beyond the limits of rainfall,” he said.

“One of the biggest opportunities is the potential to transform dryland or lower-productivity paddocks into irrigated, productive cropping land.

“At the same time, the scheme supports better environmental outcomes by reducing nutrient discharges to the Caboolture River and Moreton Bay.”

Mayor Peter Flannery said sustainability is critical to ensuring the City’s $1.8 billion food and agribusiness industry continues to thrive.

“Our farmers can face any number of challenges on the land, so having the ability to use a Class A recycled water supply not only benefits the environment but safeguards agricultural production and unlocks future growth opportunities,” he said.

Pinata Farms Managing Director Gavin Scurr, a third-generation farmer and foundation customer of the scheme, has used the recycled water on strawberry and raspberry crops.

“It’s given us the confidence to invest in better growing systems, knowing we’ve got the water to grow the crop every year, not just in wet years,” he said.

“It’s enabled us to extend our season. The strawberry season typically used to finish in late September and now we can go into early December.”

Wholesale nursery Greenstock Nurseries, which employs 120 people, is moving its business operations from Elimbah to Wamuran to connect to the scheme.

“Over the summer months, we use about 800,000 litres of water each day,” owner Amy Handy said.

“At the moment with dam water, you need to treat it, put it through a pump. Being able to hook a pipe up to the Unitywater infrastructure and not having to treat our water is amazing – and good water quality means we’ll have less diseases threatening our crops.”