$220m Ord expansion tenders open

Water providers hoping to capitalise on the $220 million Ord Irrigation Expansion Project can submit their formal proposals from today.

Water Minister Graham Jacobs said the tender process would ensure healthy competition from the water and irrigation services industry.

Preferred providers will be selected by March, 2010, to operate and maintain $220million worth of irrigation and infrastructure servicing more than 8000ha of new farmland on the Weaber Plains in the East Kimberley, with potential crops to include sorghum, seed, cotton and perennial trees.

Irrigators will be expected to make the best use of the Lake Argyle water resource while limiting groundwater recharge.