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Local Member Carol Martin has impressed Kimberley Primary Industries Association (KPIA) members with her support for development in the Ord Valley. In a lengthy meeting on October 22 with KPIA board members, she stated her disappointment in the lack of a government response to repeated calls to access land that will ensure the future of irrigated agriculture in the Ord Valley. A number of points were discussed, with the main ones being speedy access to 7000 hectares of land on Weaber Plain near Cave Springs that was excised from Ivanhoe Pastoral Lease as part of the Ord Stage I Development but not developed at that time. Access to this land, plus the 1200 hectares in Green Swamp, would assist in providing the much needed 5000 hectares of extra land for sugar production to safeguard the future of the sugar mill. When Cheil Jedang purchased the sugar mill from CSR, the State Government gave an undertaking that land would be available for the industry to grow from its present 450,000 to 500,000 tonne to the 1.2 million tonnes required by its secure customer the Cheil Jedang sugar-processing mill in Indonesia. Unfortunately, the government is yet to deliver on that promise. |
Despite the low world price for sugar, the Ord can have a sustainable sugar industry by developing the economies of scale necessary to maintain viability and to do that the above-mentioned 5000 or so hectares must be immediately developed to grow sugar. Mrs Marin voiced her support for action, which would see the continuation of the sugar industry in the Ord Valley. The loss of such an industry would cost at least 100 jobs and have a significant impact on the whole economy of Kununurra. As long term residents of the Kimberley, Mrs Martin and the KPIA board members are disappointed at the current lack of long-term job prospects for young people in the valley. Many of these young people do not wish to leave the region, but are forced to move on and seek employment elsewhere. Also of concern is the loss of market share to areas like Katherine in the NT. Young farmers from Kununurra are being lured away from the Ord Valley because of the lack of land available for irrigated agriculture development. |
The stalling tactics towards development undertaken by various State Government departments has created much frustration within the farming community, which has earned a reputation for working towards best practice, environmental awareness and diversification. Income generated from horticulture and broad acre agriculture in the irrigation area totals around $60 million annually. It was pointed out that this, the newest town in Australia has not experienced any significant expansion of the residential or farming areas since construction back in the 1960's. Whilst the recent indication of support from the Shire for residential development in Lakeside was acknowledged, the State Government has the major role in Kununurra's growth. Immediate action is required to ensure the future of the Ord River Irrigation Area and the growth of Kununurra, and both Mrs Martin and the KPIA board are determined to keep pushing to see that happens. |