London-based company Seawater Greenhouse has deemed Port Augusta the ideal location to trial a new “green” horticulture industry.

The project aims to use solar energy to distil freshwater from the Upper Spencer Gulf to cultivate fresh produce.

Last week the Port Augusta City Council Development Assessment Panel approved plans for the project, after months of consultation.

Council community planner Tung Pham said while building plans were still pending approval, a site south of the city was earmarked to make the most of the evaporative process.

He said approval for four greenhouses has been sought to establish the production of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces and capsicums.

After personally inspecting the city Seawater Greenhouse (Australia) managing director Phillip Saumweber said Port Augusta’s warm climate and seaside location boasted the ideal climatic environment for the technology.

Mr Saumweber said while the project was still “at an early stage” pilot results were expected by mid-2010.

He said that any long-term jobs created through the project would be “all sourced locally, as much as possible”.

Mayor Joy Baluch said the project was exciting for the city’s future.

She said provided the pilot project is successful, she looked forward to the prospect of a new industry in the city that would create local jobs.

“This is a good corporate citizen approach to the introduction of a new business and industry to our city,” Ms Baluch said.

“This is an extremely exciting because of the way in which they extract and use the water…it fits in extremely with council’s work towards creating an arid smart city.”

She said the potential to harvest and supply fresh food in the city had many benefits for the local economy and health.

“We could use these vegetables to supply South Australia,” she said of the potential to attract market gardeners from around the State.

Mr Saumweber said the new technology offered a sustainable solution to challenges relating to water salinity, water scarcity and rising input costs.

It also looked to provide environmentally sustainable solutions to issues faced by traditional open-field and greenhouse growers.

Experimental trials of the technology have been successfully established in Abu Dhabi, Spain and Oman.

Mr Saumweber commended the council, including Mayor Baluch, and the Northern Regional Development Board for their support in establishing the project.