The late Richard Pratt promoted that idea, but got little encouragement.
To me, it seems like a very logical idea. As an inland resident, I know that many inland dwellers have an extremely good handle on conservation, land management, and WATER management. They have learnt this as a part of survival.
Demand and price, the carrot, will eventually bring it about. After all the whole of the SE Australia from the Innamincka area east, is a spaghetti of gas pipelines.
I have been on the Ord dam, and the amount of (annually replaced) water there is incredible. At one point the 'sea' is so vast that land cannot be seen in one direction.
I've often made the point that massive US cities like Phoenix (pop 4 million) thrive in the desert.
