Leading indigenous organisation Miriuwung Gajerrong (MG) Corporation has taken ownership of 665 hectares of land for irrigated agriculture under the Ord East Kimberley Expansion Project.
The McGowan Government has signed the transfer of ownership of two land parcels in the Goomig farmlands as part of a native title settlement under the Ord Final Agreement.
This landmark step unlocks the opportunity for MG Corporation to undertake commercial irrigated agriculture operations in the East Kimberley, including cotton.
The land transfer is part of the State Government's endeavours to realise long-awaited expansion potential in the Ord Valley.
Under a licence agreement in 2020, MG Corporation and joint venture partners Cubbie Farming produced high-quality cotton from land parcel Lot 16.
MG Corporation is also one of the founding members of East Kimberley organisations pursuing a cotton processing facility in Kununurra.
MG Corporation has entered into a Water and Environmental Management Infrastructure Agreement with Kimberley Agricultural Investment Pty Ltd, who farm the balance of Goomig, to ensure the environmental obligations attached to the Goomig development are appropriately managed into the future.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"This land parcel transfer will provide MG Corporation and its people with security of tenure and the means to move towards their goal to become economically self-sufficient.
"It is an investment in the future capacity of the MG Corporation to explore avenues to build solid business and employment opportunities that will bring wide-ranging benefits to future generations and also add value to their existing Kimberley pastoral operations.
"The MG Corporation is a critical stakeholder in the development of the Ord and has already demonstrated a willingness to work with other partners to progress opportunities such as cotton production.
"Today's land transfer is part of helping to advance the next phase of agricultural expansion in the Ord, through increase in scale of production to support value add opportunities such as a cotton gin."
