East Kimberley cotton gin: $250M industry boost on track for 2025

Construction of a cotton gin which it is hoped will establish a $250 million local industry in the East Kimberley is on track with the first bales set to be processed in the 2025 harvest. Premier Roger Cook and Regional Development Minister Don Punch inspected the construction works at Mulligans Lagoon Road, 17km north of Kununurra, on Wednesday June 5 during a visit to the north west. Work on the foundation of the gin is now complete and cladding on the steel frame is due to begin shortly. Mr Cook said the Government was committed to supporting industry development in the north west and helping the region achieve its potential. “It is terrific to see first-hand the progress of cotton gin building works and gain an insight into how this exciting initiative will contribute to the development of a sustainable cotton industry. “Our Government’s substantial investment in the Ord is starting to come to fruition, launching a new era of cotton production that will drive enduring economic and social benefits throughout the region.” A local gin will open up the north west to large scale cotton production. At the moment cotton is transported 3500km by truck to Queensland to a processing facility where the cotton fibre is separated from its sticky seeds at a cost of $100 to $200 per bale. When the cotton gin begins operating it will have capacity to process up to 110,000 bales per year, with plans to eventually double that capacity. Kimberley Agricultural Investments general manager Jim Engelke said unlocking the agricultural potential of the East Kimberley had long been thought about and the cotton gin was a key piece of infrastructure that would do so. “So we’re starting small, this is a scalable and integrated project where we’re starting with a about a 50 percent installation of equipment, and that can be upgraded as the industry and the region expands or bringing further development further investment and export opportunities as well,” he said The construction program has created more than 30 jobs, while the gin is expected to generate around 40 new jobs once fully operational. It will be powered by hydro-electricity sourced from Lake Argyle The man-made reservoir will also be used it irrigate 5400 hectare cotton crop which is being established on Knox Farmland. The Water Corporation will widen the main water supply channel from Lake Argyle to Knox farmland to irrigate the crop. The project is expected to inject $250 million into the local economy through the supply chain, driving economic growth and employment opportunities.