Greetings from the Ord (and WA) to the folk of and at Hughenden.

Apologies that I cannot be there, and thankyou to Ian Baker for sharing a few insights

from WA at your conference.

Let’s start with Ord-

historically 15,000ha and

now on a pathway to at

least 50,000ha. Potential

for double that.

This photo shows part of

Ord Stage 2. This land is

now almost fully

developed. Clearing

commenced July 2013.

New Irrigation Channel designed to deliver by gravity from

Lake Argyle 100km away, and to service 30,000ha (15,000

In NT)

The same area of

Ord Stage 2

years later (June

2015).

Tail Water dam =800ML

Same area of Ord Stage 2 in 1st crop June

2015 = Chia

• A Four-year $40 million government funded program as part of

a larger $300 million Seizing the Opportunity Agriculture

initiative to grow the agri food sector

• It aims to create new irrigation precincts and expand existing

agriculture and pastoral opportunities

• It aims top increase Western Australia’s fresh food and animal

protein production by at least 50 per cent by 2025 and twofold

by 2050.

What is WATER FOR FOOD?

Minister for

Water at Gogo

Station

GLOBAL DRIVERS

• 215,000 more people in the world today than yesterday

• 70% increase in demand for global food demand by 2050

• Free Trade Agreement – improved access to import Australian

foods and phased tariff removal on Australian imports

Dr Ken Henry…Australian Newspaper 10th Feb 2014

• "We do not have the infrastructure requirements for an economy and a society that is well connected

with Asia.”

• "There is enormous potential in the Asian century and we simply don't have the infrastructure assets,

the infrastructure services, to ensure that in the commercial space -- but also the social space -- we

make the most of those connections."

We need the private sector

to invest, & we must create

the opportunity for that.

The mission is not easy for agriculture development in the north……

• Economies of scale is critical for sustainability

• Investments in agriculture is long term – decades.

• 5 years for KAI to plant a crop

• We all have a role to play to change attitudes toward this for developments.

• Regional employment and social reform wont happen if we don’t support development

• Local community people need to advocate publicly for change they want to see- they need to

defend that, not the Govt.

• We need the private developers gaining approvals and not Govt’s.

• The role of TO’s and relationships is critical. Good business is built on good relationhsips!

Indigenous Partners

•The demographics and challenges for aboriginal people speak for

themselves and should be well understood.

•Major agricultural developments are the best chance we have for real

involvement of aboriginal people in the economy.

WATER FOR FOOD WILL PROVIDE

• Regional economic growth

• Employment growth

• Growing diversification

• Growing markets

• Aboriginal engagement

LocationInvestment

model

Estimated

scale (ha)

GoGo Irrigation Area Private 15,000

Mt Pierre Station Private 1,000

Gooniyandi Irrigation Area Private 2,000

Bugardi and Dalngunaya Irrigation Areas Private 500

Nookanbah Station Private 5,000

Liveringa Station Private 5,000

Mt Anderson Private 5,000

Curtin Government 10,000

Mowanjum Irrigation trialGovernment

partnership50

Mowanjum Irrigation Area Private 5,000

Knowsley Agricultural precinct Government 5,000

Skuthorpe Agricultural Precinct Government 1,000

Fraizer Downs Private 10,000

La Grange UCL Private 20,000

Shamrock Station Private 10,000

Nita Downs Station Private 800

West Canning UCL Private 5,000

Wallal Downs Private 2,000

Pardo Station Private 2,000

Warrawagine Private 15,000

Total private sector development area of 108,300 ha equates to $1.7 billion

of regional investment

West Kimberley Water for Food and Private Investor Projects

WATER FOR FOOD PROJECTS

• Projects based across

Western Australia

• Tapping into Under utilised water

resources

• Capacity to expand and diversify

existing irrigation districts

• It is a Land tenure and water

information project to encourage

private sector investment at minimal

public cost

Middle Gascoyne

Midlands

Myalup-Wellington

Southern Forests

La Grange

Mowanjum

Knowsley Fitzroy Valley

Bonaparte Plains

Perth

Land Tenure Opportunity- Driver of Change

Past

• Pastoral Lease

• Development on

Diversification permits

= low investment, no

3rd Party investment

Future (platform for investment)

1. Option to Purchase (approval phase)

~ 2 years

2. Development Lease (development

phase) ~ 4 years

3. Agricultural Lease (50 years) or

Freehold, once fully developed.

= maximise value proposition,

transformational change, 3rd Party

external investment

Some of critics say we are picking winners……you bet we are….. What are we

supposed to do pick losers!

So what makes a site/project and potential winner?:

1. People - demonstrable support and desire from local people for change and

agricultural development, especially Traditional Owners

2. Public Good - demonstrable public benefit (e.g. sites close to towns which are

welfare dependent and need a economy)

3. Soil & water - options and suitability

4. Business Plan - that backs up any investment and involves TO’s

5. Roles - everyone knowing what role they play and doing their job (i.e. Local Govt,

TO’s, Departments, Ministers, Shire Presidents, TO’s, Chamber of Commerce)

MOWANJUM IRRIGATION TRIAL- example

• Funding partnership between the State Government and

Mowanjum Aboriginal Corporation (with past ILC investment)

• 55,000 ha pastoral lease – prime grazing land

• Initial 38 ha intensive grazing trial using groundwater

• Herd count to rise from 3,000 to 15,000 in future years

Mowanjum

FITZROY VALLEY

• Groundwater investigations,

development of land tenure

models

• estimated additional sustainable

200 gigalitres a year from Fitzroy

River

• Large scale irrigation development

• Feed on cattle fattening across all

seasons

• Expansion into higher value

cropping

Fitzroy Valley

LA GRANGE

• Groundwater investigations, development of land tenure

models

• Irrigated fodder for stand and graze and silage

• Cattle fattening across all season and move towards markets

• Significant potential for higher value agricultural production

La Grange

Derby- Knowsley-Mowanjum-Curtin

• Sealed roads

• 30km from Derby town & port

• 170km from Broome

• Curtin air base – Aust. Govt. opportunity

to release freehold land (~10,000ha).

• Possible 20,000+ hectare development

• It does not get easier than agriculture

development here!! Easier than Ord!

Gogo Pastoral Lease

• Business Plan - private developer willing to:

• Invest $187million over 5 years to build 15,000ha of

new farm land.

• deal with native title & approvals

• Imagine what this could do for Fitzroy Crossing

a welfare dependent town in need of an

economy = public good.

Requires freehold tenure

change

local champions supporting economic growth through:

� advocating, helping manage the media, ‘skin the game’

� Making it safe for Govt. to make decisions

� Agreeing key targets, timelines, actions, selection

criteria for people to take up new land.

� Helping manage the ‘wheel spin’ in Govt./public sector

� Helping drive it from our patch- it’s our backyard

� Celebrating success – build Relationships -Trust

What do we need…?

FURTHER INFORMATION

More information on the Water for Food program is available on the

Department’s website

http://www.water.wa.gov.au/Future+water/Water+for+food/default.aspx

Or contact the Team at waterforfood@water.wa.gov.au