Green Swamp - finally

Green Swamp Agriculture (GSA) has started work developing the first land for irrigated agriculture under the terms of the Ord Final Agreement

Having formally accepted the State Government's offer of a conditional purchase lease, GSA is now looking forward to growing sugar cane on part of the 1300 hectares of Green Swamp land.

GSA principals are Tim Croot, Colt Dwyer, Rob Boshammer, Garry Boshammer and Eric Waugh.

Preconditions of the land release included both environmental and heritage clearances and GSA was required to complete a feasibility study that addressed such issues as the farm design, water management strategy and development time frame.

Rob Boshammer said: "With these important preliminaries behind us we are now in the process of surveying the site and accessing earthmoving equipment."

Several key innovations underwrite the development proposal.

These include the implementation of more efficient irrigation methods that significantly reduce water use and provide minimal tail water release.

Tree crops such as Mahogany will be used to help manage the soil water levels and monitoring systems will be employed to manage environmental and ground water issues.

In addition to the innovations, an Aboriginal heritage site has been established and the initial cropping focus will be on sugar to help improve the viability of this crop in the Ord.

Part of the approval to proceed requires GSA to contribute to the upgrading of Carlton Hill Road, the main thoroughfare to the new development.

Taking the opportunity to discuss their project, the growers met with Deputy Premier Eric Ripper last week, at the 'on-country' determination of the Miriuwung Gajerrong #4 native title claim.

Mr Ripper congratulated the growers and said that he was particularly pleased that the development of Green Swamp would go ahead as planned.