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One of Australia's remotest agricultural regions would almost double in size under an ambitious plan announced by the West Australian government.
As part of a 10-year strategy, the state government wants to expand Kununurra's Ord River Irrigation Area from 28,000 hectares to up to 50,000 hectares.
The Ord River Irrigation Area spans 28,000 hectares, but the WA state government would like to see that figure rise to 50,000. (ABC Kimberley: Alys Marshall)
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said the development aimed to spur agricultural growth in the region by freeing up more land.
"We envisage that [by adding this additional land] we're going have a thriving, self sustaining Ord Valley by 2035," DPIRD spokesman Eamonn McCabe said.
Land values in this small pocket of northern WA, 3,000km north east of Perth and 820km south-west of Darwin on the WA/NT border, have skyrocketed over the past decade.
In 2018, blocks of 200 hectares were selling for roughly $9,000/ha.By 2023 that figure was closer to $19,000.
The reason? Irrigated cotton.
With ample access to water, cotton yields in the Ord Valley are amongst the highest in Australia. (ABC Rural: Alys Marshall)
Why grow cotton in the Kimberley?
The Ord Valley has traditionally been a producer of horticultural crops such as melons, pumpkins and mangoes.
But, as research found cotton could be grown successfully in northern dry season, the fibre crop has steadily increased in popularity.
Over the border in the Northern Territory, where the majority of cotton grown is rain-fed, this has been controversial.
Large water channels feed the Ord Irrigation Scheme, allowing growers reliable access to water when they need it. (ABC Rural: Alys Marshall)
Things are dramatically different on the WA side of the border.
That's because the Ord River Irrigation Scheme is fed by Lake Argyle, the largest water storage facility in mainland Australia, holding more than 20 times more water than Sydney Harbour.
It means farmers in the region have access to 17 megalitres of water per hectare per year, 95 per cent of the time.
Mr McCabe said it was a major factor in farmers' decision to grow the crop, and would continue to be as land area expanded.
"At any one time, probably two thirds of the production will be cotton," he said.
The increase in cotton grown will be furthered by the region's new cotton processing gin, currently being built, which aims to be completed by mid-next year.
20,000 hectares of proposed development depend on land clearing approvals. (Source: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development)
Environmental approvals needed
The presence of endangered species like the plant typhonium, native to the Ord Valley, has created hold-ups in developing parcels of land in the past.
Mr McCabe said endangered plants, and their habitat, would be protected.
"There will need to be extensive work done with DBCA to make sure we have confidence that there is sufficient other land where typhonium can exist for the preservation of the species before the [development] will get any environmental approvals," he said.
Regional Development Minister Don Punch said the Ord's growth would create new job opportunities in the East Kimberley.
"[We are] on the cusp of capitalising on historic and recent investments to realise its full potential and deliver strong economic outcomes," Mr Punch said.
"A thriving agricultural sector is crucial to the future prosperity of the north — driving up the value of agricultural production and creating additional jobs and economic benefits for the Miriwoong and Gajerrong people, who are proud partners in this journey."