sive salt levels in the recycled water they use to irrigate their crops.

His appointment comes amid growing fears about the effect of the water on the region's soil and its long-term viability for agriculture.

Its current salt content is double the level growers were promised by this year.

Growers have established a lobby group, Water for Werribee, with vegetable entrepreneur Frank Costa as its patron, to push for better quality and quantity of water.

The recycled water has been provided to growers from Melbourne Water's Western Treatment Plant and distributed by Southern Rural Water for four years.

Last month, the water supply contract was extended for another two years.

Cr Fairclough said he was looking forward to working with a range of interested parties to reduce salt levels. "Collaboration with a number of parties, including local industries and the Wyndham Council, will be a key feature of the research program," he said.

"This will include working with water authorities to approach companies to reduce the salt content in the water they discharge.

"We're also planning an advocacy campaign to encourage household consumers to switch to using washing detergents with lower salt contents."

Cr Fairclough was head of VU's School of Life Sciences from 1997 to 2002.

During his academic career, he published 91 research papers and attracted $5.9 million in research grants for the university.