19 December 2014
Farm Weekly
THE Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project, funded through the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program, continues to grow with the announcement of preferred proponents for two parcels of land in the Packsaddle area, south of Kununurra.
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman has announced Gray Australia Pty Ltd as the successful preferred proponent of the 360 hectare first parcel and J H & CS Engelke as the successful preferred proponent for the 70ha second parcel of land.
“The release of land in the Packsaddle area is an excellent opportunity for the local private sector to establish, or grow, existing enterprises,” Mr Redman said.
“Both proponents are local, family-owned and operated, farming enterprises that intend to grow a range of horticultural crops including watermelons, pumpkins and grains.”
Gray Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Ceres Farm, was established in 1994 and produces premium, high-value agricultural produce including watermelons, pumpkins, chia, chickpeas, sorghum and maize. The extra land in parcel one is located adjacent to their existing farm allowing increased growing capacity in production and employment opportunities.
J H & C S Engelke farm mangoes in close proximity to parcel two which they intend to use to increase their farming operation to include broadacre horticultural lines.
“It is pleasing to see the State Government’s targeted investment in arterial road and irrigation infrastructure for the Ord Expansion Project is now having a ripple effect which is increasing interest in developing other areas of the Ord Valley,” Mr Redman said.
“This is an exciting time for northern Australia and I have no doubt in the years to come we will see the Ord, along with other parts of the State, evolve into world-class agricultural precincts.”
The State Government has invested more than $515 million into the Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project, with an aim to increase the Ord irrigation area to about 29,000ha of agricultural land.
Courtesy of the Farm Weekly