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Two Wells Red Cross legends Mollie Frost and Jasmin Daniele with some handcrafted items.
TWO WELLS & DISTRICTS
SEPTEMBER 2021
Est 1978
Red Cross royalty BEC O’BRIEN
WATERTIGHT INVESTMENT
BEC O’BRIEN
A MAJOR olive grove site planned for Two Wells will now be boosted under the federal government’s recent $108 million investment in water infrastructure projects. As part of the National Water Grid Connections funding pathway, an extension to the Northern Adelaide Irrigation System (NAIS) will be funded $4.4 million to supply water to the olive grove. Known as Project 312, the South Australian based private company was established two years ago to cater for the growing demand of high-quality extra virgin olive oil in domestic and international markets. The company plans to build a state-of-theart onsite processing plant and aims to invest
$100 million into the region in coming years. Once completed, it will be one of the largest intensive olive grove sites in Australia. Adelaide Plains Council (APC) CEO James Miller said news of the multi-million injection into water infrastructure projects within his zone was exciting. “The Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme was always intended to deliver on investment and jobs across the Adelaide Plains and this much needed stimulus will certainly go a long way to achieving this,” Mr Miller said. “Council will continue dialogue with the proponent over the ensuing months so as to progress lodgement of a development application.” However, deputy chairman of the NAIS
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advisory group to Northern Adelaide Plains Food Cluster Ian O’Loan has cautiously welcomed the investment. He said it was time to draw people’s attention to the issues of water affordability, quality and connection, especially for grassroot growers. “We need to get some answers with regards to water quality and how much it will cost to connect to the NAIS,” Mr O’Loan said. “What price will local growers be asked to pay for this water? “If NAIS water is available at a competitive price, that is comparable to the existing VPS (Virginia Pipeline Scheme) with an improved water quality of near 850 ppm, then there is scope for expansion onto the Adelaide Plains
BETWEEN them, Two Wells Red Cross legends Jasmin Daniele and Mollie Frost have decades of volunteering experience. Their faces have been a familiar sight at trading tables and bake sales for years and the pair have a great friendship. Now - after more than 30 years knitting, crocheting, making and collecting baked goods, selling raffle tickets and signing up new members - they are taking a step back. Jasmin joined the branch in 1977, hoping to help her local community and raise funds for causes close to home as well as further afield. Known for her lemon butter, Jasmin has held the roles of branch president and secretary over the years, the latter for more than 20 years. “It’s good fun being part of the community this way,” she said. “You meet so many people.”
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for a variety of horticultural and agriculture use, which will create the jobs forecast by both existing and past governments and APC to be realised; [but are] currently unachievable.” Mr O’Loan said he had put questions to the state government over the past year with regards to NAIS but had received little response. “Growers believe that this pricing is a fair structure from a public utility compared to those offered in other parts of Australia to which Adelaide Plains growers are competing with finished product,” he said. “Is this grant to Project 312 going to offer growers in the area such a competitive price and water quality? n Continued page 2