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Turfgrass varieties for the Future:

After more than 10 years of low and sometimes no rainfall, we have all learned to live in drought. Through relentless and ongoing education to customers we have managed to conquer the hurdles of government imposed lawn watering bans which had been enforced in every region of our target market.

We have managed to not only survive but have thrived in these dry times through a change in people’s mindset and management of their turf landscape – primarily with a transition away from temperamental cool season turf varieties to an overwhelming demand for self repairing, low maintenance, drought tolerant warm season turfgrass. This trend despite climatic odds out of our control was a message loud and clear that green space in the form of natural turf surfaces continues to be a high priority on most people’s list of lifestyle choices – providing it is sustainable.

As a direct result from producing turf in a region with an already scarce and dwindling water supply, our environmental platform has become the focus of our core business value. Over the last 5 years we have transitioned away from producing about 80% cool season turf to now specialising in the exclusive supply of drought tolerant, warm season turf varieties.

Consumer demand for warm season turfgrass during the last decade of dry afforded us the confidence to at times foot the bill for water price hikes up to as much as $1000/megalitre, to produce turfgrass varieties for customers to sustain in home yards with either tank, grey or bore water supplies, independent of potable town supplies. It has just meant that the water storage capacity within individual residential home yards has ultimately dictated the size of lawn areas, which, on average has declined over the last 10 years from around 150m2 to approx. 60m2-70m2.

Water prices are currently fetching as little as $55/mg. Which is great from a production perspective to know we will be able to significantly reduce one of our main input costs this year. However, it brings with it other issues of complacency, and changing watering habits.

As with most aspects in life, every facet is bitter sweet.

With surplus water around the state and water storages at capacity, water authorities have turned the taps back on.

So we should finally be happy? Our prayers have been answered right? Not entirely. The big picture issue we are faced with now is to convince the government to be responsible with how they reform water policy. After years of lobbying for the taps to be turned back on, we are now advising them to not return to daily or even every second day watering, but rather continue to support the water permit exemption concept for 28 plus days, and only turn the taps back on two or three times a week.

We need to capitalise on the difficulties people have overcome during the last ten years and cement the good habits of water conservation they now have ingrained in us all – it really has become a social conscience issue – like drink driving.

The water authorities not only have the ability to influence, but they have the power to dictate watering habits of residential home owners here ever after.

People have such short memories. Once they resume old habits, in 5-10 years time when our water storages are again depleted – it is easy to see lawns will again be the first scapegoat of water cut backs.

In closing – our message is simply:

Be careful what you wish for - the grass isn’t always greener! I hope we can all continue to work together with a united voice to protect the future of all of our own business operations, and our broader landscape industry.

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