The WA parliamentary question seeks information on strategic agricultural investment and Royalties for Regions investment in the South West region during 2013-14. The answer details specific investments and projects, including those by Grand Farm, V&V Walsh, Minderoo Station, and the Shire of Manjimup.

AnsweredQoN 1959Legislative Council
Asked
22 October 2014
Portfolio
Regional Development

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to agriculture in the South West region, and I ask: (a) what strategic agricultural investment has the Department for Regional Development attracted for the South West region in 2013-14; and (b) what Royalties for Regions investment in agriculture has the Department for Regional Development made in the South West region in 2013-14?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
2 December 2014
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Regional Development
Response time
41 days
(a)  Investment attraction is the role of many parties and it is often not  accurate or possible to attribute it to one party. For example,  development commissions, private businesses, local government and  numerous government agencies all have roles to play in attracting investment. In administering the Royalties for Regions program,  funding is provided to many of these organisations to do work which  leads to investment attraction.
A number of strategic agricultural investments have taken place in the South West including:
1) A $1 billion project signed between China's Grand Farm and the Inner  Mongolian government and West Australian meat processor V&V  Walsh in Bunbury.
V&V Walsh plans to export boxed meat to Grand Farm and will require  an extra
500 000 lambs and 30 000 cattle per year during stage one of the  project.
2)  The purchase of Harvey Beef by Minderoo Station, owned by Mr Andrew Forrest, for approximately $40 million. Harvey Beef is the State's biggest beef exporter and the only one accredited for exports to  China. Minderoo plans to invest in upgrading the abattoir which employs 300 people and processes approximately 145 000 cattle a  year.
Additionally strategic investments in the order of $7 million in Royalties  for Regions allocation has been made to the Shire of Manjimup for its  Agricultural Expansion Project, linked to the Southern Forest Food Council initiative.
(b) $62,580 was expended in 2013-14 in the South West. The Department  of Regional Development has also been involved in the Seizing the  Opportunity Agriculture Initiative and to date, five business cases have  been supported which are not focused on the South West region. Subsequent Seizing the Opportunity Agriculture Initiative business cases are expected to feature Royalties for Regions investment in the   South West once approved.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more