THE Federal and State governments will invest $10 million in a plan that marks a significant step forward in realising the potential of new irrigated agriculture in the Flinders and Gilbert catchments in North West Queensland.
The $10m investment includes $6.8m from the Federal Government (including $800,000 from CSIRO) for CSIRO to conduct a comprehensive assessment of surface-water storage options in the Flinders and Gilbert River catchments, and identify new irrigated agriculture techniques that could be extended right across northern Australia.
It also includes $3m from the Queensland Government to undertake on-farm demonstration projects and systems analysis to develop practical farming approaches.
This is as well as $200,000 in shared funding for a feasibility study to develop a meat-processing facility in North Queensland.
Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan said the investment builds on the existing commitment of the Federal Government to developing northern Australia.
"The Gillard Government committed $6m to the Northern Australia Sustainable Futures (NASF) program at the 2010 election," Mr Swan said.
"This additional commitment from the Commonwealth will build on the work already under way and drive the development of agriculture, not only in North Queensland, but right across northern Australia."
Premier Bligh said the private sec- tor would be able to use the govern-ment-funded irrigation trials as a benchmark to support their own investment.
"The desire to expand agriculture has been around for more than 12 years and there has been tremendous work done into building a case for investment," Ms Bligh said.
"Funding a living, breathing on-farm trial will give investors confidence in the region to support long-term, sustainable agribusiness."
Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government Simon Crean said the strategy opens the door for new diversified and sustainable agricultural development in the catchments, and will provide investment confidence in new agricultural-based businesses.
"There is widespread support, from local communities and the Commonwealth and Queensland governments to expand beef production and build processing capacity in this region," Mr Crean said.
"The Northern Australia Ministerial Forum (NAMF) in Mount Isa discussed the progress of the northern beef strategy, which is studying how to generate higher returns for producers and diversify the industry."
Mr Crean added that one of the first tasks at the inaugural NAMF meeting in Darwin last year was to commission work looking at mosaic agriculture this strategy is a further commitment to build on that decision.
"It is an important step in realising the potential of land and water resources, and opening up the north to new opportunities in the beef industry and for agriculture more broadly, in Queensland and across northern Australia," he said.
This strategy will be overseen by a board of management co-chaired by the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government.
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