Martuwarra Fitzroy River to be protected from large-scale irrigation in new commitment from WA Government

The WA Government has announced its intention to protect the Kimberley’s heritage-listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River from large-scale irrigation, releasing a policy position paper stating no new extraction of surface water will be allowed.

The Water Allocation Planning in the Fitzroy — Policy Position paper outlines key principles to inform the upcoming draft of the Fitzroy River Water Allocation plan.

The State says the paper has been informed by comprehensive consultation and scientific studies across the Martuwarra Fitzroy River catchment, which is home to barramundi, freshwater prawns and the critically endangered freshwater sawfish.

It is i direct response to the discussion paper released by the Government in 2020, which received over 43,000 submissions from across Australia — including 1,100 people in the Kimberley — objecting to plans to take 300 billion litres of water every year for large-scale irrigation.

Pew Charitable Trusts deputy director Tim Nicol welcomed the WA Government’s announcement.

“Today’s commitment from the Cook Government shows they have listened to the community and is a crucial milestone for the Martuwarra River, which has been under threat from large-scale water extraction and dams since the 1950’s,” he said.

The paper also indicates Traditional Owners would have greater rights on the water-related cultural heritage of the river, but yet to define what decision-making rights they might have.

“These rights must align with the key principle of recognising the Martuwarra Fitzroy River as a living entity - encompassing a total watershed approach for the greater good of all,” Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council chair Anne Poelina said.

In 1996, environmental organisation Environs Kimberley was formed to protect the damming of the Fitzroy River and large-scale land clearing to grow cotton in partnership with Aboriginal groups to keep it running free.

Environs Kimberley director of strategy Martin Pritchard said he was glad to see the Government recognise the health of the rivers system depends on uninterrupted flows, but wanted to see more detail on the policies.

“We are concerned about groundwater extraction. 100 billion litres are mooted as being available, which would allow the irrigation of 10,000 hectares,” he said. “That is an unacceptable scale of land clearing in such an intact and biodiverse landscape.

“Work already completed shows that other, more profitable and less damaging industries are possible in the Fitzroy Valley — such industries should be encouraged and supported.

“The new economy provides the potential for sustainable jobs, including conservation of the world-class landscapes, which Aboriginal rangers are successfully working on.

“Carbon abatement, cultural tourism, bush foods and renewable energy are all industries that can work in the Fitzroy Valley, and there’s a strong interest in developing them.

“We need to get behind these new industries, which are more appropriate for the landscapes and culture of the Kimberley.”