Project Title:
Location:
Ord Stage 3
Northern Territory
Project Proponent: Northern Territory
Government
Investment Amount Negotiable, depending
Sought: on outright acquisition or joint venture arrangement
Timeframe: An expression of interest process could be conducted within the next 12 months, depending on current native title negotiations.
Industry sub-division: Agriculture / Horticulture
Project Description:
An opportunity exists to develop approximately 14,500 hectares of Northern Territory land to join the Ord
Irrigation Scheme in West Australia pictured above.
Lake Argyle, constructed in the 1970s, is the largest freshwater body in Australia and is 18 times the size of
Sydney Harbour, with a current capacity of 10.7 million mega litres. With annual average rainfall of 800 millimetres there is an opportunity for a variety of irrigated crops to be grown on the black soil (Kununurra Clay) plains of the Keep River region adjacent to the Northern Territory/Western Australia border.
In the past five years the Western Australian and Australian governments have invested over $500 million in the development of irrigation channels, roads, housing and other social infrastructure in the region:

Stage 1 was established in the 1970s and now produces annual crops such as pumpkins, melons, bananas, mangoes, chia and supporting sandalwood plantations.

Stage 2 irrigation channel and road works are almost complete with the selected developer, Kimberley
Agricultural Investments (KAI), currently clearing and preparing 7,400 hectares of land in the ‘Goomig’ area for farming. KAI is also undertaking planning for the development of 6,000 hectares of land in the
Knox Plain (also in Stage 2).

Stage 3 land is contained in a pastoral lease held by the Northern Territory Land Corporation, a corporate body established under the Northern Territory Land Corporation Act. It is anticipated that an expression of interest process to select a developer for Stage 3 will be conducted once native title negotiations have concluded. Similar selection processes have been open and competitive.
Ideally suited to experienced investors corporate farms or larger family-owned farming enterprises.

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Project Proponent: Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries
The Northern Territory Government governs the
Northern Territory, Australia’s third largest federal division bordered by Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland to the east.
The Northern Territory has a land mass of 1,350,000 square kilometres and a population of approximately
235,000.
The capital city is Darwin. The population is not concentrated in coastal regions but rather along the
Stuart Highway. The other major settlements in order of size are Palmerston, Alice Springs, Katherine,
Nhulunbuy, and Tennant Creek.
The Northern Territory offers unique investment opportunities for significant agribusiness growth within easy access to expanding Asian markets and with the benefits of Australia’s clean and green reputation, stable and supportive government and innovative and competitive business environment.
Further Location Details:
The Ord Stage 3 areas for development in the Northern
Territory include land in the Knox Plain and Keep River which adjoin the border separating Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Ord Stage 3 is serviced by the township of Kununurra, a community of 7,000 residents with an excellent range of social and agricultural services.
Contact Details
Lorraine Corowa - Director Major Economic Projects
Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries,
Northern Territory Government
E: Lorraine.Corowa@nt.gov.au
T: +61 8 8999 5363
W: www.nt.gov.au/dpif
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