Could this be Canberra's food bowl?

The ACT Government is working on a study into future land use of the corridor from the Majura Valley north of the airport through to Hume.

Long-term, much of this vast stretch of land will be used for industrial development. This recognises that:

• it’s a high airport noise corridor unsuitable for any residential development
• it’s easily serviced by road freight on an upgraded Majura Parkway and Monaro Highway
• it’s alongside the proposed Very Fast Train route
• the existing industrial-designated areas of Fyshwick and Mitchell have been incrementally eroded by decisions allowing retail uses, meaning new areas are needed for serious industrial uses.

But the study also recognises that much of this demand will be years away, and that there should be planning for what can happen with the land in the meantime.
Through my representation of GCC at ACTPLA’s Planning and Development Forum, I’ve been promoting the idea of using some of the land for intensive horticulture in order to bring production of food closer to our city—a major source of consumption. Less transport; less greenhouse emissions; fresher food; and more diverse local employment.

Many vegetable staples could be grown year round using greenhouses and/or hydroponics. A reliable water supply could be created using stormwater ponds such as recently constructed along Flemington Road. And such intensive growing methods are inherently more water efficient than broadacre farming anyway.

Food for thought?