EVALUATION COMPLETE
Land and water resources in Northern Australia presents significant opportunities for growth in agriculture, however climate extremes ranging from potential drought to extended tropical wet seasons continue to challenge expansion of this industry in the north.
The proposal aligns with the Australian Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap and development themes in the Northern Australia Action Plan 2024–2029 through improvements in sustainability and resilience of the agriculture industry in the north and generation of economic opportunities for First Nations communities. The proposal also aligns to the strategic objectives of the National Water Grid Investment Framework by improving water access for agricultural use to support regional economic growth and development.
PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION
The Ord River Irrigation Area, located in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia, currently consists of irrigation channels that support around 28,000 hectares of agricultural land. The proposal involves upgrades to irrigation networks to deliver water to Keep River Plains in the Northern Territory from Lake Argyle in Western Australia, supporting expansion of the Ord River Irrigation Area across the Northern Territory and Western Australia border. New infrastructure could enable over 20,000 hectares of additional irrigated agriculture and deliver significant economic growth to Northern Australia.
The Australian Government should note this proposal as a potential future investment opportunity within the 2-4 year pipeline.
The Australian Government has committed $2.3 million for detailed business case planning through the National Water Grid Investment Framework for the Ord River expansion to the Northern Territory.
OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES
This proposal has the potential to:
- Support water security – a secure water supply would enable the development of irrigated agriculture industries in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
- Support regional economic growth – increased agricultural production would support job creation for remote and regional communities, as well as support economic diversity.
- Support First Nations outcomes – including employment and education opportunities for local First Nations communities, the proposal would support progress towards Closing the Gap targets.
Proponent to develop a Final Business Case (Stage 3 of Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework) that:
- considers risks associated with climate change, environmental impacts, and native title agreements
- considers water sharing and infrastructure cost allocation agreements between Western Australia and the Northern Territory.