Publication Date

2-2013

Publisher

State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development)

City

Perth

Abstract

The Western Australian Government is developing additional land for irrigated agriculture adjacent to the existing Ord River Irrigation Area (Ord Stage 1), in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The expansion, referred to as greater Ord Stage 2 has identified land along the lower Ord (Packsaddle, West Bank, Carlton Station and Mantinea), the Cockatoo Sands, as well as the Weaber, Keep River and Knox Creek Plains as suitable for development. The current development of the Weaber and Knox Creek Plains, referred to as the M2 Supply Area, will increase the current area under irrigation from 14,000 to potentially 30, 500 ha (being the M2 stage developed in full) (DoW, 2006). Current consumption by Stage 1 is approximately 300 GL/a, with demand for M2 fully developed being approx. 690 GL/a (DoW, 2006). The sustainable diversion limit for future development of the Ord has been determined as 865 GL/a, with a 90% annual reliability (DoW, 2006).

The Aquatic Fauna Management Plan addresses each requirement of Condition 10 of the EPBC approval. It outlines specific protective and monitoring measures that are to be implemented for the protection of the listed species and requires approval from the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities prior to the clearance of farm lots. To meet the requirements of the Commonwealth Conditions, Landcorp commissioned WRM to undertake extensive baseline surveys and establish ecological condition, as well as occurrence of listed species. In addition, the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) have been commissioned to undertake regular monitoring of groundwater and surface water flows and quality (i.e. DAFWA 2011), which will be used to develop surface water trigger values for assessing effects of any discharge to the Keep River.

Number of Pages

70

Keywords

Ord River, ORIA, irrigated agriculture, environmental compliance reporting, Western Australia, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, aquatic fauna, sawfish

Disciplines

Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring

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