SA Regional Development Minister, Geoff Brock, has announced that Joyson Orchards at Lenswood was investing in a $4.5 million capital project to redevelop the Gumeracha vineyard within the Adelaide Hills.
“This project is bringing new life to an abandoned site, increasing the premium food and wine produced in the area and creating seven new full time equivalent jobs by 2018,” Mr Brock said.
“The critical step in this development is to secure sustainable and reliable access to water for the vineyards and orchards.
“A containment dam and pump will be installed for storing treated wastewater from the Gumeracha wastewater treatment plant, supplementing the existing water supply over the growing season which will allow for a further 10 hectares to be planted,” Mr Brock said.
Peter Oborn from Joyson Orchards said the project represented the opportunity for high quality South Australian produce to be grown sustainably using recycled water with a unique twist.
“Our aim with this project is to reinvigorate the existing vineyard infrastructure to create premium quality wine and integrate into the land a contemporary orchard reflecting industry leading growing techniques,” Mr Oborn said.
“With our Torrens Valley Road frontage, it’s envisaged that a ‘pick your own’ orchard will complement the commercial orchard, offering a unique tourism attraction and showcase great Adelaide Hills produce.
“Our primary objective is to build a sustainable and resilient food production system to satisfy both local and international demand for high quality South Australian foods,” Mr Oborn said.
Joyson Orchards received the $200,000 grant through the enhanced $15 million a year Regional Development Fund to go towards the water infrastructure component of the project totalling $535,000.
The Fund drives economic growth and productivity by offering grants to boost investment in regional infrastructure and create jobs and new opportunities for regional South Australia.
