There is however the issue of sea water seeping into the Great Artesian Basin if sea water is channelled into lake Eyre.
I read somewhere that scientists has looked at the issue of creating an inland sea to modify the climate of the inland regions, but they concluded the change to our climate would be minimal.
Regarding cotton growing----- we have now approached a new era of cotton growing where the crop is grown without irrigation.
In time even Cubby station will change crops due to more cotton on the market.
Farmersare growing cotton without irrigation.
Rainfall has brought an amazing 10,000 hectare dryland cotton boost to the North West plains of NSW with many first-time cottongrowers planting cotton.
A general 30 millimetres of soaking rain in the Moree district has meant thesoil holds enough moisture to plant cotton and growers were not holding back after most wheat crops had failed in winter due to a lack of rain.
The area planted ran from Gurley, Bellata up to Boomi and Mungindi. Most wereplanting the 748 variety that has been developed to grow with less water thanold varieties.
The good work by scientists breeding drought hardiness into traditional crops ispaying off and this should reduce the need for irrigated cotton in the future.
https://www.theland.com.au/story/5784273/northern-rain-spurs-on-dryland-cotton/
