This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
DIVERSIFICATION of the Northern Territory economy, through agricultural development, is expected to create 150 jobs in the region.
The Northern Territory government, the NT Land Corporation and in partnership with the NT Farmers association are seeking expressions of interest for three agricultural land developments.
These developments across NT should bring not only jobs, but opportunities for regional traineeships and increase NT’s role in Australia’s fasted growing sector of Agriculture. The Northern Territories contributes 135,000 tones of produce grown annually, with its plant-based industries worth over $350 million.
“The Territory’s agricultural sector has a significant role to play in the recovery of our economy,” said Nicole Manison, minister for agribusiness and aquaculture.
Manison continued that these developments “will drive sustainable growth and development of the sector and capitalise on the potential that the industry has in the future of our economy.”
The first site, the Keep Plains Agricultural Development, consists of 67,500 hectares on the NT/Western Australia border. It sits alongside WA’s Ord River Irrigation Scheme and hosts land viable for a variety of high quality broadacre crops, including melons and cotton. Upgrades to the site are valued at over $58 million.
The Wildman Agricultural Development is made up of 26,000 hectares by the Stuart Highway and Point Stuart Road. It is expected to be used for high yield crops, such as bananas, mangoes and leafy vegetables. The development site would also be well suited to cattle and buffalo production.
Lastly, the Larrimah Agricultural Development. This site is 5,712 hectares in the Big River region. It has direct access to logistics routes along the Stuart Highway. These sites are suited for both dryland and irrigated crops. This could not only support produce such as mangoes, citrus and melons, but also beef production.
These sites will create supply that will slot into NTs established domestic and international markets. With Paul Burke, chief executive of the NT Farmers Association saying these projects “will see the Northern Territory capitalise on the increasing demand for quality Australian produce, ensure sustainable continuity of food supply for national and export markets and enhance the profitability and economic resilience of the region.
“One of the biggest challenges to agricultural development in the NT is access to land that is suitable for broadacre cropping activities,” Burke said.
Which is why the NT government plans to work to ensure the success of these developments through investments in roads infrastructure, to enable more attainable access to these sites.
“At a time when Australia’s economy is desperately needing recovery initiatives and investments agricultural development will bring significant long-term opportunities and economic benefits to Northern Australia.”
