New Ord River sugar mill marks birth of new industry

8/7/94

Premier Richard Court has described as the birth of a new industry the announcement that a raw sugar mill will be established in the State's Ord River region.

Mr Court congratulated the Ord River District Co-operative Limited and CSR Limited on their decision to build the mill - which is expected to crush its first sugar cane by August next year. 

"This is a new and exciting industry for Western Australia and shows great capacity for further expansion," the Premier said. 

"The establishment of the mill will have a significant economic effect locally - particularly in terms of job creation - and will add to the diverse industry base that is characteristic of the Ord irrigation area. 

"We always knew the Ord had the attributes to achieve high sugar yields, but it has taken initiative by the Ord Co-operative and growers to prove the commercial viability of a sugar industry." 

Mr Court said a sugar industry would have a significant spin-off for the Wyndham community as port access and shipping was required.

"The establishment of a sugar industry on the Ord will also help focus the attention of other interested parties and investors on the area," he said.

"To this end, the State Government is working hard to expedite the release of suitable land and ensure water availability for further agricultural development projects."

The Ord scheme was originally conceived as a 70,000 hectare irrigation project. To date almost 14,000 hectares has been utilised with production valued at over $35 million from a range of horticulture, grain and livestock activities. 

The Premier said the Department of Agriculture had been instrumental in researching sugar cane yields on the Ord and providing base cane planting stocks, while the Department of Commerce and Trade had provided assistance in design auditing and preliminary engineering planning for the proposed mill.

"This decision is further evidence of the ability of WA to attract investment for a diverse range of industries and underlines the exciting development taking place in this State," Mr Court said.