Planning the Peel Food Zone
The Peel region is one of Australia’s fastest growing areas and is strategically positioned to contribute to the food security of the Perth metropolitan area, and greater Western Australia.
It also has capacity to capture high-value export opportunities to capitalise on global demand for food.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is leading the high-level planning of the Peel Food Zone.
The proposed zone covers 42 000 hectares across the Shires of Murray and Serpentine-Jarrahdale, north east of Mandurah. It is a conceptual area used to attract and facilitate new agricultural development.
The area is currently used for broadacre grazing but has potential for innovative, year-round production of high-quality produce and to support the development of food technology. Its road and rail networks mean the Peel Food Zone is within an hour of Perth airport and Fremantle and Bunbury ports.
Transformation of agriculture in the Peel requires changes to established farming practices, alternative ways of managing soil and water, and new or different types of farms and production systems.
Facilitating regional economic growth as well as protecting the health of the waterways and wetlands, native vegetation and water availability are priorities for Peel Food Zone planning.
Planning for the proposed Peel Food Zone report
The department recently commissioned a study to assess the land suitability for six agricultural land uses in the Peel Food Zone. The report assessed the feasibility of:
- dryland pastures for grazing (current use)
- irrigated annual horticulture such as leafy vegetables
- irrigated perennial horticulture such as fruit trees and grape vines
- covered irrigated horticulture such as strawberries in tunnel houses
- closed-system horticulture including glasshouses with hydroponics
- closed-system intensive animal production such as cattle feedlots, shedded poultry and piggeries.
The suitability of each agricultural land use option was analysed using environmental, social, infrastructure and physical data sets for the region. Spatial software was then used to generate a series of maps to show where each land use scenario was most suited.
The study confirmed the east is suitable for growing a variety of crops and pastures including vegetables and fruit trees where water supplies allow, while the west is best suited to closed systems of agriculture such as glasshouses.
The department will be hosting public workshops in October to present the findings and discuss future opportunities and constraints with landholders and the community. Further details will be provided closer to the date.
The department is working closely with its partners in state and local government to develop a food transition strategy to support food processors under pressure in Perth to relocate to the Peel Business Park, and to develop a strategic and targeted approach to attracting new investors into the Peel region.
Collaboration with the Peel Development Commission, the Shires of Murray and Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and Landcorp has been vital to progress the project, with support from Royalties for Regions.
The Peel Food Zone is one of three strategic elements of the $49.3 million Transform Peel initiative led by the Peel Development Commission.
This program is designed to support long term (to 2050) economic growth and jobs in the Peel with a focus on opportunities from agricultural production and processing. The other two initiatives include:
- Peel Business Park – creation of Western Australia’s newest and largest industrial park focussed on agrifood processing and value adding. Up to 1 000 hectares of industrial land at Nambeelup. More about the Peel Business Park is available on the website.
- Peel Integrated Water Initiative – assessment of sustainable water sources and nutrient management to support the food zone and business park.
For more information contact Heather Percy, Senior Research Officer, Bunbury on +61 (0)8 9780 6262.