Ord Irrigation Scheme Stage 3 Request for Proposal announced Wednesday, 06 April 2016

Image: Ord Channels through to Norther Territory.

The Ord Irrigation Scheme will be extended into the Northern Territory with the Hon. Gary Higgins MLA, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries announcing the Request for Proposal process open for Stage 3.

Minister Higgins said the Northern Territory Government and the Northern Territory Land Corporation has begun a Request for Proposal process seeking private sector proponents to facilitate development of the irrigated agricultural area – the Spirit Hills Pastoral Lease – of Ord Stage 3.

“Ord Stage 3 is an extension of the iconic Ord Irrigation Scheme, with Stages 1 and 2 located in Western Australia, and will provide investors with the opportunity to develop premium crops for global markets,” Minister Higgins said.

“This project will help diversify the Northern Territory economy, create jobs for local people, boost the regions, provide economic opportunities for Indigenous people and leverage off investment in Ord 1 and 2."

Irrigation channels will be extended from Western Australia to the Northern Territory providing up to 14,500 hectares of new farming land.

The Proponent would be responsible for negotiating with native title holders, building the necessary irrigation channel infrastructure and seeking all of the necessary approvals, including sacred site and environmental approvals to develop the Ord Stage 3 irrigated agricultural area.

Ord Stage 3 was made an NT Government Major Project in 2012, with a project team established in the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries to work alongside the West Australian Government.

“Projects of this size take a long time to develop and the Territory Government has consulted with native title holders, the Northern Land Council and with local stakeholders in Kununurra as well as the WA and Commonwealth Governments to guide management decisions to progress this area for irrigated agriculture,” Minister Higgins said.

“The Northern Territory Government has a vision for more agricultural precincts in the NT - that’s why we’re investing in soil and water studies like the recently released Larrimah studies.

“Ord Stage 3 is strongly aligned with the Commonwealth Government’s Developing Northern Australia White Paper and the Northern Territory Government’s Economic Development Strategy and we believe it will deliver huge benefits.”

The indicative timeframes for the RFP are: 

  • Proposal lodgement date – end of May 2016
  • Evaluation and assessment – Mid June 2016
  • Negotiations with preferred proponents – June/July 2016
  • Execution of Project Agreement – End of July 2016

Prospective proponents can register their interest on the Northern Territory Government website.