I like the idea of ethanol production, we have the capacity. I like the idea of small acre farming.
But it brings us back to the issue of water - that's the limiting factor. The other issue is labour - we can't even raise enough people to harvest our citrus crops let alone extend agricultural practices.
So something that would thrive in wide open spaces with no large need of water - what about a penal colony in the deep centre. It seems quite fashionable to detain people these days, and certainly to have the colonies run by private enterprise. We could accept millions from other countries and the seabord population would have on-going employment supporting these 'penal islands'. And unlike storing nuclear waste we wouldn't be leaving an unhealthy legacy for the generations to come (but if you don't consider that true just consider what Australia is today!)
