South Australia

The Development of Inland Australia Executive summary 
 
Introduction 
 
The overcrowding of our major cities is resulting in the failure of their infrastructure. This problem stems from the fact that the large cities and their accompanying suburbs are being developed as urban sprawl, with little consideration being given to future infrastructure developments such as roads, transport, sewerage, water, power and socal services. The cities just continue to expand unchecked and the cracks are begining to show. 
 
What is needed 
 
We need self sustaining developments that will entice people to leave the big cities and hence alleviate the ever increasing strain on infrastructure. 
 
The main enticements to leave the cities would be jobs not based around unsustainable farming practices, abundant power and fresh water and cheap one acre water front house/land packages. With the baby boomers coming, this will be an ideal retirement alternative to the east coast. 
 
The Development of Lake Eyre and Lake Torrens 
 
If a salt water supply pipe from Spencer Gulf to Lake Eyre was constructed, Lake Eyre, which is a 9500 square kilometer salt lake, could be flooded permanently using gravity, as it lies 11 meters below sea level. The salt water could be also used to develop Lake Torrens This will create many thousands of kilometers of water front real estate and also allow the continual expansion of thermal/solar electrical and desalination plants to occur for many years.  
 
New eco house manufacturing plants could be built at both at Lake Torrens and Lake Eyre, which would build relocatable houses that would strive to be energy independence. These houses would be of guaranteed quality and mounted on poles to avoid possible flooding. A land/house package, offered at $180K, would ensure a lot of people would sell up in Sydney and relocate to a one acre lake side block. 
 
As stated, future energy and fresh water generation will come from Thermal/Solar plants. There are already 80 Megawatt power plants available, and by having multiple plants, the achievable power output could be far in excess of this. Liquid salt now enables them to operate 24 hour a day. The plant(s) would be connected back to the Adelaide power grid via a new electrical grid. 
 
Conclusions 
 
A new salt water pipe line would ensure Lake Eyre and Lake Torrens will have a plentiful supply of pressurized salt water, allowing future expansion of thermal/solar plants. This, along with the completion of a new electrical grid through Lake Torren to Lake Eyre, will make South Australia a major supplier of electrical power.  
 
With cheap water front properties and new jobs in thermal/solar and eco house manufacturing plants, South Australia would also be a major growth area for new sustainable housing development. 
 
Aboriginal people could be assisted in seeking employment in new eco businesses. The  
eco house would also be an alternative to present aboriginal housing. 
 
Higher education through out Australia should be involved in all phases of design and construction.