- Development lease to underpin new farmland in the Ord's Knox Plain
- New farmland area is set to play an important role in the region's burgeoning cotton industry
- Culmination of long-standing collaboration between the Western Australian Government, Ord growers and Traditional Owners to diversify the economy and create new job opportunities
The Cook Government is advancing the agricultural industry in the north, with the announcement today of a development lease for the Knox farmlands near Kununurra that will pave the way for the expansion of a sustainable cotton industry.
The 5,400-hectare lease agreement, granted to Kimberley Agricultural Investment Pty Ltd (KAI), marks another step forward since the original 2014 Ord Development Agreement to cultivate fertile land for agricultural production.
KAI is partnering with Keep Farming Pty Ltd to develop the Knox farmland, which is set to play an important role in building scale for cotton production and processing in the region.
The development has been backed by local growers and Traditional Owners, with construction underway of Kimberley Cotton Company's cotton gin in Kununurra.
The Knox development will deliver Native Title benefits as negotiated by the Miriuwung Gajerrong peoples under the Ord Final Agreement.
In late 2022, the Western Australian Government allocated $77.1 million for vital water infrastructure upgrades in the Ord, to support required water volumes to Knox and drive agricultural expansion in the area.
This builds on previous WA Government investment of close to $4million to install electricity supply infrastructure to provide clean, renewable power to the cotton gin, which is set to be operational in 2025.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"Today marks a tremendous milestone in the development of the Ord River Irrigation Area, paving the way for a vibrant cotton industry in our State's north.
"Widening of the Main Water Supply (M1) Channel is also underway to support water supply requirements to the area from Lake Argyle.
"Our Government has walked alongside industry for many years to help establish a new era of cotton production, diversifying the local economy and creating new job opportunities for the East Kimberley."
As stated by Lands Minister John Carey:
"This is a significant agreement, which will support new farmland development and long-term crop production for Knox Plain.
"This agreement paves the way for the leaseholders to sustainably develop these fertile black-soil plains, create jobs and provide social and economic benefits for the region and the Miriuwung Gajerrong people."
As stated by Kimberley MLA Divina D'Anna:
"I am delighted we've reached this significant milestone today, which brings us another step closer to realising the full potential of this transformational industry that will provide significant economic and employment opportunities for the East Kimberley.
"This is the largest agricultural project in WA's north, and a fantastic example of collaboration between government, local agricultural businesses, and Traditional Owners who are a proud partner in the Ord agricultural industry."
