A land release in Carnarvon opened by the WA Government will significantly expand horticultural production in the Gascoyne, driving new local jobs and helping to build critical mass on the river.
Expressions of Interest are invited from experienced parties to establish horticulture enterprises on seven parcels of land, totalling 300 hectares, to the north and east of the Carnarvon horticulture precinct.
The prime horticultural land is the WA Government’s second Gascoyne land release, complementing a Stage One release in 2019.
The new land will be supported by a specific water allocation and serviced by a new 25 kilometre pipeline and a reliable electric power supply to guarantee high quality water.
The prime horticultural land will be supported by a specific water allocation and serviced by the Northern Borefield developed by the State, which includes a new 25 kilometre pipeline and a reliable electric power supply to guarantee high quality water.
The State has entered into a Heads of Agreement with the Gascoyne Water Co-operative (GWC). GWC will deliver water to the new horticultural land and the State has agreed to transfer to GWC the assets and water rights associated with the Northern Borefield.
The increase in water sales revenue will provide greater long-term water price security to existing and new horticultural businesses.
The land release follows the successful conclusion of a Native Title Agreement with the Yinggarda people in late 2020, which will deliver economic benefits to the traditional custodians of the land.
Securing development partners for this rare land release is the culmination of the State Government’s Gascoyne Food Bowl Initiative to increase food production, improve sustainable water supplies for irrigated agriculture and capture domestic and export market opportunities for Western Australian fresh produce.
More details about the development opportunity and the Expression of Interest process are available at https://agric.wa.gov.au/gascoyne-food-bowl-initiative or https://dplh.wa.gov.au/gascoynefoodbowl
Source: WA Government