Minister appoints consultant to construct Ord business case

24/12/03
State Development Minister Clive Brown today announced that the Western Australian Government, after consultation with the Northern Territory Government, had commissioned Marsden Jacob Associates to prepare business cases for staged and full development scenarios for the Ord River Irrigation Area Stage 2 M2 area.
Marsden Jacob Associates are economic and financial consultants specialising in water infrastructure. The Marsden Jacob led consortium includes KBR (engineering and environmental specialists); SunWater (irrigation engineers); commodity specialists LMC International; investment bank Babcock and Brown; a WA-based anthropologist, Nicholas Green; and Kimberley Kohan, a Kununurra-based business and management consultant.
"The business cases will include a full analysis of development options and market opportunities for suitable crops that would deliver maximum economic opportunities to the Kununurra community, particularly the traditional owners," Mr Brown said.
The draft business cases are expected to be completed by May 2004; they will be discussed within Government and with the local community shortly thereafter.
"As required by the 2002 Ord Stage 2 M2 irrigation area environmental approval conditions and consistent with the State's Sustainability Strategy, the WA Government, in consultation with the Northern Territory Government, last week called for tenders to commence the first of a series of baseline environmental studies in the project area," the Minister said.
Other action taken by the WA Government to expedite the release of land in the east Kimberley includes the appointment of Mr Chris Athanasiou as the State's lead negotiator to liaise with the Kimberley Land Council, representing the traditional owners.
It is hoped the Miriuwung Gajerrong Number 1 Claim Consent Determination, announced on December 9, 2003, will serve as a blueprint for the native title and Aboriginal heritage negotiations associated with the release of further irrigation and town land.
The Ord Stage 2 M2 Irrigation Area is located in the State's East Kimberley region and extends into the Northern Territory.
Minister's office: 9222 9699