Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project

Overview

The Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project is a State Government program to realise the full potential of available resources in the East Kimberley to create a vibrant and major regional centre. It will increase the size of the Ord irrigation area to about 22,000ha of agricultural land, which will provide major opportunities for growth and sustainability for the region’s economic and social development.

The initiative is being lead by the Western Australian Minister for Regional Development; Lands, Hon Brendon Grylls as the Minister assisting the Minister for State Development. It is a key priority of the State Government’s Royalties for Regions initiative, recognising regional centres as the backbone of the Western Australian economy. The Department of Local Government and Regional Development is administering the roll-out of the program.

Work on the project has started and is anticipated to take about four years to complete, subject to environmental approvals. The first land release is expected in 2011.

The $415 million program consists of $220 million from the State’s Royalties for Regions funding and $195 million under the Australian Government’s Nation Building – East Kimberley Development Package.

The State Government’s commitment to developing agricultural infrastructure includes irrigation, roads, power and telecommunications. State Government agencies are collaborating to finalise the scope of the program and refine costings.



The Commonwealth funding will give a much needed boost to developing social infrastructure of the region, subject to a joint Commonwealth/State Feasibility Study.

On 18 February 2009, Minister Grylls announced the start of earthworks on the district’s main (M1) water supply channel which will enable increased water capacity for future expansion works on the M2 channel. View the Media statement.