Publication Date

12-1981

Publisher

Western Australian Department of Agriculture

City

Perth

Abstract

The Ord Irrigation Project is located in the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley in the far north of the State of Western Australia.

The potential for harnessing northern rivers was realised many years ago. In 1941, a small experimental farm was established on the Ord, and possible dam sites were investigated upstream.

In 1945, this small experimental farm was relocated and the Kimberley Research Station was established on Ivanhoe Plain, part of the 12,000 hectare area now irrigated from Lake Kununurra above the Diversion Dam.

By 1958, the Western Australian Government was convinced of the viability of an irrigation scheme on the Ord. The Federal Government agreed to share the cost of Stage 1 of the project which was completed in 1963. The Kununurra Diversion Dam and associated works cost about $20 million - of which the Commonwealth contributed $12 million. By 1966 the 31 farms irrigated from Lake Kununurra had been allocated; their average size being 260 hectares.

In 1967 the Commonwealth Government agreed to provide finance for Stage 2. Work planned included the construction of the main dam and irrigation facilities capable of irrigating a further 60,000 ha.

Although the main dam was completed, a reduction in the profitability of farming halted expansion of the irrigation area. Five farms on Packsaddle Plain have since been released together with more than 70 small hobby farm and horticultural blocks (up to 10 ha) along the banks of the Ord River.

Number of Pages

11

Keywords

Ord River Irrigation Area, Farming, Western Australia

Disciplines

Agribusiness | Agricultural Economics | Agricultural Science | Agriculture | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Marketing

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