Call for Ord water service providers

Irrigation water service providers have been given until January 19, 2010, to submit formal proposals for the first stage of the Ord River Expansion project.

It is the first time the Western Australian Government has engaged in a competitive process to identify such a provider – a preferred proponent and a reserve preferred proponent will be selected by March 2010.

The selection of a water service provider will enable the operation and maintenance of $220 million worth of irrigation and supporting infrastructure to service more than 8,000 hectares of new farmland on the Weaber Plains in the East Kimberley.

The WA Water Department is expecting an efficient water supply to be created for 22 new farms with the aim of making the best use of the Lake Argyle water resource and limiting groundwater recharge.

The Weaber Plains development will be released in 2011 and include supporting infrastructure with off-farm water supply, drainage, flood protection and roads.

Once the government names the preferred and reserve preferred proponents, it will conduct negotiations with the preferred provider until about September 2010. Applicants can submit proposals here.