Preferred irrigation service provider selected
In June 2009 the Department of Water opened a register of interest for those interested in becoming the irrigation service provider for the Ord expansion area.
A request for proposal was subsequently released on 30 November 2009.
In June 2010 SunWater Ltd was named as the preferred service provider for the expansion project. The Ord Irrigation Cooperative Ltd was named as the reserve preferred proponent.
The selection process will be finalised once the preferred proponent has been issued with a water services licence by the Economic Regulation Authority.
The new service provider will operate the irrigation service for the 8 000 hectares of farmland to be developed in the Weaber Plains area.
Working in partnership to deliver the Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project
As the lead government agency responsible for managing our state's water resources, the Department of Water is playing an important role in delivering the Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project.
The expansion project, is funded through the Royalties for Regions initiative and is being lead by the Department of Regional Development and Lands.
The initial expansion project aims to increase the size of the Ord River irrigation area by 8 000 hectares with a development in the Weaber Plains area. The expansion project will also provide major opportunities for the Kimberley region's economic and social development.
Department of Water's role
With a dedicated internal team, the Department of Water is delivering three components of the overall project:
- selecting a service provider for the provision of irrigation water
- setting the price arrangements for irrigation services
- issuing licensed allocations for water resources in the Ord River irrigation area
For further information contact:
Jaci Moore
Project manager
Department of Water, head office
jaci.moore@water.wa.gov.au
(08) 6364 7010
Dave Munday
Kimberley regional manager
Department of Water, Kimberley Region
dave.munday@water.wa.gov.au
(08) 9166 4100
For further in formation on the Royalties for Regions Ord-East Kimberley expansion project, please visit www.RoyaltiesforRegions.wa.gov.au/ord