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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 272 asked in the Legislative Council on 2 April 2019 by Hon Jim Chown

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

WATER RESOURCE ASSESSMENT — FITZROY CATCHMENT

272. Hon JIM CHOWN to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:

I refer to the minister's comments made to The West Australian in regard to the Fitzroy River agricultural hub —

''The amounts of water and land required to underpin a cotton industry are unlikely to fit with the Government's approach.''

Why is the government against a cotton industry when the CSIRO northern Australia water resources assessment, released last year, clearly stated that a cotton industry was a sustainable option that would likely bring one of the highest returns?

Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:

I thank the member for the question.

Hon Jim Chown: You're welcome.

Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN: Excellent—very friendly today.

It is important in the Fitzroy Valley that we develop some common ground with all stakeholders about the scale and nature of development that is to occur in the valley. As the member would deeply understand, this requires a sensitivity to environmental and cultural values as well as agricultural opportunities.

We see great prospects for cotton in the Ord, but at this point we see irrigated agricultural opportunities in the Fitzroy focusing on boosting the cattle industry as well as some premium horticulture. By the end of this year, the state government will complete the draft management plan—the centrepiece that ties all the Fitzroy election commitments together—which will support economic development as well as cultural and conservation outcomes. The plan will be finalised by mid-2020.

No decision has yet been made on water allocation. The draft water allocation plan will be complete by early 2020, and finalised by the end of 2020.