Joint media assertion – Kimberley Cotton Gin to develop future billion-dollar trade in WA’s north

The Albanese and
Cook Labor Governments have formally opened the Kimberley Cotton Gin in
Kununurra, which is anticipated to create greater than 1,000 jobs over the following
decade in a brand new billion-dollar trade for the State’s north.

The Western Australian
Government has labored intently with native stakeholders for greater than a decade to
set up a sustainable and worthwhile cotton trade, with the brand new Kimberley
Cotton Gin set to drive financial progress and employment alternatives within the
area.

The $60 million
high-tech processing facility is owned by Kimberley Cotton Company, a
consortium of native growers together with the Ord River District Co-operative, Traditional
Owners Miriuwung Gajerrong Corporation, Kimberley Agricultural Investment,
Prime Grain Pty Ltd and Namoi Cotton Limited.

The Kimberley Cotton Gin has commenced
operation, with an preliminary processing capability of about 100,000 bales per yr.

The Cook
Government has invested $9 million to allow the venture, together with $5 million
by means of the WA Investment Attraction Fund and $4 million to supply land and a
renewable energy provide for the high-tech processing facility.

The venture has
additionally been supported by a $34 million mortgage by means of the Commonwealth Government’s
Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.

The 79.4-hectare
gin web site is serviced by a 100 per cent renewable energy provide utilizing low
emission hydroelectricity, which is ready to fulfill world market demand for low
emissions cotton fibre.

The WA
Government funded the high-voltage provide line and upgraded the community to
ship clear energy from the Pac Hydro’s Lake Argyle technology system.

In 2024, the WA Government
unlocked 5,500 hectares at Knox Plain by way of a growth lease to the Kimberley
Agricultural Investment, which along with companions Keep Farming and different
growers, will construct cotton provide and scale to help the gin.

This
agricultural growth is underpinned by a $77 million State Government
funding, by means of the Water Corporation, to improve the primary water provide
channel to produce water from Lake Argyle to the Knox growth.

The State
Government-backed WA Agricultural Research Collaboration will probably be driving
analysis to discover the usage of cotton and different irrigated crop by-products as
livestock feed so as to add additional worth to the Kimberley economic system.

Comments
attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

“My authorities
is concentrated on diversifying Western Australia’s economic system with this milestone
marking the launch of an thrilling new trade for our State’s north.

“The opening of
the Kimberley Cotton Gin is a big achievement that follows years of
collaboration between trade, Traditional Owners, the local people and
authorities.

“This is a brand new
period for sustainable cotton manufacturing in WA, set to inject thousands and thousands of {dollars}
into our State’s economic system over the approaching years and generate high quality jobs for
the individuals of the Kimberley area.”

Comments
attributed to Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine
King: 

“This
state-of-the-art facility represents way over simply infrastructure – it is
the inspiration of a wholly new trade for the Kimberley area.

“The Kimberley
Cotton Gin Project has the potential to remodel the cotton trade throughout
the Kimberley and into close by elements of the Northern Territory by guaranteeing
domestically grown cotton could be processed and ready straight for the market.”

Comments
attributed to Regional Development and Kimberley Minister Stephen Dawson:

“I look ahead
to seeing how this visionary venture will assist generate jobs, progress and
flow-on advantages within the Kimberley for generations to come back.

“I’m pleased with
the help the Cook Government has supplied to the Kimberley Cotton Gin
initiative over a few years and our efforts to develop and diversify agriculture
in WA’s north.”

Comments
attributed to Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:

“The growth
of a sustainable cotton trade for Western Australia helps to
future-proof this necessary area and its communities.

“I congratulate
the Kimberley Cotton Company and need them properly with the continued progress and
growth of the Ord River cotton trade.”

Comments
attributed to Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna:

“Today marks a
vital achievement for a venture that may go away a long-lasting legacy within the
Kimberley area.

“The venture is
a testomony to our authorities’s dedication to developments within the area and
the dedication of native growers and trade to constructing a sustainable,
diversified future within the East Kimberley.”