A division of the Liberal Party of Australia
MACDONALD CALLS FOR START ON ORD EXTENSION
16 September, 2008
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Federal Opposition Spokesman on Northern Australia, Senator Ian Macdonald, has hailed the formation of a Liberal Government in WA as the green light for the immediate development of Stage 2 of the Ord River Project
“There is now a real opportunity to fast forward plans for bringing into production of the M2 area – the original stage 2 but without the Northern Territory “Senator Macdonald said.
“For decades now there have been investigations, planning, assessments and talk.
“Now is the time for action!
“It’s a real pity that the Northern Territory Government shows no interest in the second stage which would open up vast tracts of suitable territory land for food production and economic growth. But the Northern Territory’s involvement in not crucial to the successful expansion of production from the Ord.
“Expansion of the Ord could double its production of food for Australia.
“With the Murray Darling Basin’s food production in serious decline and predictions of further drying of the south of the Continent, the Ord is the obvious place for expansion of crops that can feed Australia.
“The election of the Barnett Government in WA provides the missing piece of the jigsaw for putting plans into action. The lack of proactive Government support has been the inhibiting factor. The new Government can provide the final piece to the expansion of a great Australian asset” Senator Macdonald said.
Senator Macdonald has just returned from a visit to the Ord with members of the Coalition’s Policy Committee on Water.
“We were impressed with the enthusiasm and energy of farmers and investors in Kununurra – but those wanting to expand required the support of a government committed to the North. Now they have it.
“I believe the Commonwealth also has a role to play in funding the expansion of the necessary infrastructure in road and channels.
“It was after all the nation building vision of the Menzies Government that got the project going more than 4 decades ago.
“I urge the Rudd Government to work cooperatively with the Barnett Government to bring about the expansion to make good use of the Australia’s most precious commodity, water that lies in abundance in the storage infrastructure in the North West” Senator Macdonald said.