Prime Gascoyne horticultural land on market

  • ​Expressions of Interest opened for 300ha of horticultural land near the Gascoyne River
  • Land release in Carnarvon set to generate local jobs, increase food production and support food security
  • Opportunity follows native title agreement with traditional owners
  • Greater certainty on long term water price for horticultural businesses in Carnarvon
  • A land release in Carnarvon opened by the McGowan Government today will significantly expand horticultural production in the Gascoyne, driving new local jobs and helping to build critical mass on the river.

    Expressions of Interest are invited from experienced parties to establish horticulture enterprises on seven parcels of land, totalling 300 hectares, to the north and east of the Carnarvon horticulture precinct.

    The prime horticultural land is the McGowan Government’s second Gascoyne land release, complementing a Stage One release in 2019.

    The new land will be supported by a specific water allocation and serviced by a new 25 kilometre pipeline and a reliable electric power supply to guarantee high quality water.

    The prime horticultural land will be supported by a specific water allocation and serviced by the Northern Borefield developed by the State, which includes a new 25 kilometre pipeline and a reliable electric power supply to guarantee high quality water.

    The State has entered into a Heads of Agreement with the Gascoyne Water Co-operative (GWC). GWC will deliver water to the new horticultural land and the State has agreed to transfer to GWC the assets and water rights associated with the Northern Borefield.

    The increase in water sales revenue will provide greater long-term water price security to existing and new horticultural businesses.

    The land release follows the successful conclusion of a Native Title Agreement with the Yinggarda people in late 2020, which will deliver economic benefits to the traditional custodians of the land.

    Securing development partners for this rare land release is the culmination of the State Government’s Gascoyne Food Bowl Initiative to increase food production, improve sustainable water supplies for irrigated agriculture and capture domestic and export market opportunities for Western Australian fresh produce.

    More details about the development opportunity and the Expression of Interest process are available at https://agric.wa.gov.au/gascoyne-food-bowl-initiative or https://dplh.wa.gov.au/gascoynefoodbowl

    As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:

    “This land release is the result of years of extensive collaboration by industry, community, traditional owners and government, and particularly the Gascoyne Water Co-operative, which has played a crucial role in working to improve water reliability for all growers in the precinct.

    “This development will attract an expansion of the industry and build the scale necessary to underpin a strong future for Carnarvon horticulture.

    “This Stage Two land release has laid sound foundations from which to increase annual horticulture production from its current level of 45,000 tonnes, worth more than $97 million to the benefit of the local Carnarvon economy and community.”

    As stated by Lands and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt:

    “This is a rare land release that will boost horticulture production from the Gascoyne and sow the seeds to maximise the potential of emerging domestic and export market opportunities.

    “I congratulate the Yinggarda people who were integral to opening the door to this opportunity for horticulture development in the Gascoyne.

    “I would also like to acknowledge the work of all those involved in driving this vision and working collaboratively towards a common goal that will generate long-term economic and social benefits for the Carnarvon community, the traditional owners and the State.”

    Agriculture and Food Minister’s office – 6552 6200

    /Public Release. View in full here.