| |
Three heavyweights of the WA Nationals are in Kununurra to assess what is required to get Ord Stage II moving.
Planning and infrastructure spokesman Murray Criddle, Party leader Brendon Grylls and agriculture spokesman Terry Redman arrived in Kununurra today.
The three claimed neither the State nor Federal Governments had shown any leadership on the crucial East Kimberley project.
The Nationals' delegation is meeting with industry, local authorities, and grower groups.
"The Carpenter Government is sitting on a number of expressions of interest from private companies wanting to become involved in Ord State II, but significant development will not eventuate until vital infrastructure is funded by either the State or Commonwealth," Mr Criddle said.
"Up to $200 million of public infrastructure investment might be required for Stage II to become a reality and this trip will provide us with a full overview of the project's needs."
Mr Criddle said an additional 14,000 hectares of irrigable land would become available under the Ord Stage II but the viability of the project was intrinsically linked to broadacre crops like sugar cane and cotton.
"Independent modelling has been completed on the viability of Ord River sugar cane for ethanol production, but infrastructure incentives will be needed to make this happen," he said.
"There is no doubt that State and Federal Government funding support will be needed initially for primary and secondary roads, and the Wyndham port upgrade.
"There has been speculation that the Ord River Scheme can become Australia's future food bowl but that will not happen unless there is government will to help make it happen."
Mr Criddle said that if The Nationals WA gained the balance of power at the next State election it would ensure that the government of the day committed ongoing infrastructure funding to the Ord River Scheme as part of the party's Royalties for Regions policy.
Royalties for Regions would ensure that 25 percent of all petroleum and mining royalties would be placed in a fund for reinvestment in regional infrastructure and regional community projects.
Currently more than $1.7 billion is collected by the State from royalties but there is no guarantee that any of it will be spent in the regions.
|
|