❓ A parliamentary question regarding a proposed horticultural development in Skuthorpe, Kimberley, focusing on water usage, crop types, labour requirements, and land tenure, with the Minister providing details on planned crops, water allocations, employment, and future land use.
AnsweredQoN 2054Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the proposed horticultural development at Skuthorpe in the Kimberley and ask,: (a) how many hectares of asparagus is planned to be grown; (b) how much water is available for the asparagus; (c) what other crops and how many hectares are planned to be grown; (d) how much water is available for these other crops; (e) how much labour is required to grow these crops; (f) are you aware of whether the proponent will seek overseas workers; (g) on the 20th September, 2018, it was reported in the Broome Advertiser that you said the Department had worked with Kimberley Asparagus to ensure the development plan only includes high value crops like asparagus and table grapes and does not include melons and pumpkins, why; (h) how will the Minister ensure that melons and pumpkins will not be grown; (i) is it possible that the land could be transferred to freehold in the future; and (j) if yes to (i), how would it be ensured that melons and pumpkins not be grown in the future?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 May 2019
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development
Response time
10 days
(a) 70 hectares which is revised down from the original development plan for at least 100 hectares due to anticipated water availability.
(b) Kimberley Asparagus have sought an initial water licence from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation for 995ML which will service 70 hectares of asparagus and 10 hectares of table grapes. A further 1.75GL is dependent on completion of a further groundwater assessment.
(c) Kimberley Asparagus will trial 10 hectares of other high value crops including table grapes.
(d) See answer to part (b).
(e) It is estimated that 50 full time equivalent positions will be required over the period of a growing season.
(f) All jobs will be advertised locally and unfilled roles will be sourced through backpackers and the Seasonal Worker Programme, which contributes to the economic development of nine Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste.
(g) These statements were in line with the development plan Kimberley Asparagus provided to the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.
(h) The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage will undertake lease compliance assessments during the term of the lease.
(i) Yes.
(j) The sale of the land will be restricted to horticulture but not be subject to future crop production restrictions.
(b) Kimberley Asparagus have sought an initial water licence from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation for 995ML which will service 70 hectares of asparagus and 10 hectares of table grapes. A further 1.75GL is dependent on completion of a further groundwater assessment.
(c) Kimberley Asparagus will trial 10 hectares of other high value crops including table grapes.
(d) See answer to part (b).
(e) It is estimated that 50 full time equivalent positions will be required over the period of a growing season.
(f) All jobs will be advertised locally and unfilled roles will be sourced through backpackers and the Seasonal Worker Programme, which contributes to the economic development of nine Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste.
(g) These statements were in line with the development plan Kimberley Asparagus provided to the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.
(h) The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage will undertake lease compliance assessments during the term of the lease.
(i) Yes.
(j) The sale of the land will be restricted to horticulture but not be subject to future crop production restrictions.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.