Combined Govt plan to expand Ord River Irrigation Scheme

19/4/95

The Governments of Western Australia and the Northern Territory are to combine in a major plan which involves expanding the Ord River Irrigation Scheme to more than five times its present area.

In Kununurra today, Western Australian Premier Richard Court and Northern Territory Chief Minister Marshall Perron signed a Memorandum of Understanding pledging to co-operate in developing more land for irrigation progressively over the next 20 years.

At present, 12,000 hectares of land, known as Stage One, are under irrigation as part of the Ord scheme.

It is proposed that a further 64,000 hectares in separate areas north-east and north-west of Kununurra be irrigated through Stage Two of the scheme.  Of this, more than 25,000 hectares are in the Northern Territory.

The areas earmarked for irrigated development include the Weaber Plain, Knox Creek Plain, Keep River Plain, Carlton Plain and Mantinea Flats.

Mr Court said that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding was a significant milestone in the Ord Project.

"The potential of the Ord has long been recognised," he said.

"However, significant steps are now being taken to ensure that this potential is not wasted but realised.

"A detailed economic study of the Ord has indicated high returns from the further development of the irrigation scheme.

"The great potential of the Ord is that it can become one of the highest-yielding regional development areas available in Australia.

"The value of crops produced on the Ord has more than trebled in the past eight years and the project is supporting more than 100 successful farmers growing many types of produce for domestic consumption and export.

"Now the demand for new irrigated farming land is high because there is a shortage of this type of land in the Eastern States.

"However, there is also a shortage of irrigated land in the area developed under Stage One of the Ord scheme and both our Governments see the importance of making sure that more land is made available to meet demand."

The Memorandum of Understanding provides for a concept study to be completed this year.  The study will define the proposed expansion and provide a master plan for the future release of land in the areas being considered for development.

The study will investigate suitable soil types, conduct heritage surveys and prepare engineering concepts for irrigation and infrastructure development.

A preliminary engineering assessment is now underway.

Mr Court said that the level of confidence in the future of the Ord could be gauged through two new projects.

"Construction has begun on a new technically advanced sugar mill capable of crushing 560,000 tonnes of cane a year and the construction of a 30 megawatt hydro-electric power station at the Ord main dam is also underway," he said.

"The hydro-electric project will be the biggest application of renewable energy in WA and will provide clean and efficient energy to the top end of the State.

"Projects like these demonstrate a new vision for the region and underline the great potential for further economic development in the Ord." 

Today's signing ceremony coincided with a meeting in Kununurra of the Ord Stage Two committee, which is overseeing the development of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme.

The Ministry of Premier and Cabinet, the Departments of Resources Development, Agriculture, Land Administration and Aboriginal Affairs, the Ord Development Council, the Water Authority and the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries are represented on the committee.