NT Land Corporation, in partnership with NT Farmers Association, will soon be calling for expressions of interests for three highly prospective agricultural land developments.
The land releases include the Keep Plains Agricultural Development, Wildman Agricultural Precinct and the Larrimah Agricultural Precinct.
NT Farmers Association CEO Paul Burke says that one of the biggest challenges to agricultural development in the NT is access to land that is suitable for broadacre cropping activities.
“The release of these highly prospective large scale agricultural land developments will see the Northern Territory capitalise on the increasing demand for quality Australian produce, ensure sustainable continuity of food supply for national and export markets and enhance the profitability and economic resilience of the region” said Mr Burke.
The land releases include:
- Keep Plains Agricultural Development (67,500ha): Adjoining WA’s iconic Ord River agricultural developments, on the NT side of the border, the Keep Plains Agricultura Development offers the potential to further establish a variety of commercial broadacre crops, as well as demonstrate how thriving agricultural precincts can be developed where good soil and water resources co-exist, across jurisdictional boundaries. This will be the largest land release for agricultural development in the Northern Territory to date.
- Larrimah Agricultural Precinct (5,712ha): Located within the Big Rivers Region and with direct access to logistics routes both north and south along the Stuart Highway, the Larrimah area has a unique seasonal advantage, extending the season for crops such as the Territory staples of mangoes, citrus and melons as well as presenting opportunities for a range of dryland and irrigated crops and the development of intensified beef operations.
- Wildman Agricultural Precinct (26,000ha): Wildman Agricultural Precinct is located 135 kms east of Darwin, north of the Arnhem Highway along the Point Stuart Road. The large-scale agricultural precinct has the capacity to accommodate multiple agriculturaland horticultural activities and high yield crops such as bananas, and including rain fed forestry such as mahogany as well as cattle production.Mr Burke said that at a time when Australia’s economy is desperately needing recovery initiatives and investments post COVID-19, agricultural development will bring significant long-term opportunities and sustainable economic benefits to the Northern Territory. As well as regional development and investment outcomes, the flow on from these three agricultural land releases is expected to create over 150 new jobs and training opportunities and to grow the Territory’s capacity to lead with new innovation, technology and infrastructure and environmental stewardship.
“Agriculture is Australia’s fastest growing sector and is key to our food security and to Australia’s economic recovery. The Territory has diverse and well-established agriculture, forestry and fisheries
sectors, with plant-based industries alone worth over $350 million (2019). We have abundant land, suitable water and soil resources and significant opportunity for development and growth as Australia’s closest capital city to Asia’s key trading markets, with well-established supply chains by road, rail, air and sea,” said Mr Burke.NT Land Corporation has been working closely with various NT Government agencies, in particular the Department of Primary Industry and Resources and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to ensure these parcels of land are suitable, and ready, for release to the market.
NT Land Corporation said, “This will assist in ensuring proponents are as informed as they can be about the opportunities and constraints of each of the sites to ensure economic prosperity for the Territory long into the future.”
“These are exciting investment opportunities for emerging agribusiness in the Northern Territory which will consolidate the region’s already strong reputation as a premium quality food producer for global markets,” Mr Burke said.