Projected impacts of salinity on dryland property values in South West Australia

Abstract

The goal of this analysis is to predict the impacts of salinity on property values in the unirrigated, predominately cropping land in the south-west agricultural region of Western Australia. The method applied is statistical analysis of the relationship between salinity and property values in data from the recent past. Estimates suggest that if we can avoid salinisation of salt free cropping land holding other factors constant, we can avoid a reduction in land values of anywhere between 30% and 95%. In terms of dollar values and relative to the average land value per hectare in this study of approximately $1500, that amounts to savings of between$450 and $1425 per hectare.Environmental Economics and Policy,