Jo’s story: When farming meets energy

In the quiet plains of South Australia, where golden fields stretch to the horizon, Jo has spent nearly half a century building a life rooted in the land. Reeves Plains isn’t just home—it’s part of Jo’s story.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes,” Jo reflects. Before settling in the area, Jo rode horses through the same paddocks. Later came a large property, a herd of Hereford cattle, and the rhythm of hobby farming. When Alinta Energy purchased land nearby for its Reeves Plains battery project, Jo’s story intertwined with our industry.

A simple and super effective lease

“I leased the land before Alinta bought it,” Jo explains. “When the property was sold, the outgoing owners passed my details to Alinta, who contacted me to see if I wanted to continue the lease. It was a great opportunity!”

That call marked the beginning of a land lease arrangement that lasted many years. Long before any workers set foot on the site of the future battery. For Jo, it meant more space to harvest hay and feed livestock. For Alinta, it meant a well-kept property without the work and extra cost associated with regular land maintenance. “It was a true win-win!” Jo says.

The hard work that made it possible

Each autumn, Jo planted wheat, barley, and vetch. By late October, the crop was cut, dried, and baled for feed. “Growing my own hay is always cheaper than buying it,” Jo says. “Cropping the land meant I could feed my Hereford cattle without paying high prices for feed.”

The benefits didn’t stop there. Keeping the land productive also helped keep it safer. “Reducing the fuel load, meaning maintaining the dry grass and weeds that can spark a fire, was important for safety. Having someone like me manage that made it easy,” Jo explains.

Weed control was constant, but Jo took it in her day-to-day stride. “You’ll never stop weeds completely, but you can certainly manage them,” Jo adds.