Western Australia’s environmental watchdog has waved through a new irrigation project at one of billionaire Kerry Stokes’ Kimberley pastoral stations.
Western Australia’s environmental watchdog has waved through a new irrigation project at one of billionaire Kerry Stokes’ Kimberley pastoral stations.
The Napier Downs irrigation project would see four centre pivots installed over 160 hectares to grow fodder crops for the Stokes pastoral portfolio which includes Mount House and Leopold Downs.
In deciding not to assess the project, Environmental Protection Authority chairman Matthew Tonts said environmental impacts were expected to be manageable.
“The EPA considered that potential impacts to groundwater dependent ecosystems as a result of the implementation of the proposal can be managed with an appropriate operating strategy that includes suitable triggers, thresholds and adaptive management actions,” he said.
“Based on the types of vegetation present, and the mitigation measures in place, there are no significant residual impacts predicted for flora and vegetation.
“No direct residual impacts to Aboriginal heritage sites or values are expected as a result of the proposal.”
Three gigalitres of groundwater would be extracted per year and 200 hectares of land cleared under the project.
The EPA approval is now subject to a three-week appeals process.
Napier Downs’ lease was purchased by Mr Stokes’ private investment vehicle, Australian Capital Equity, in 2015, in a deal rumoured to be worth about $25 million.
An Indigenous land-use agreement was struck between the 386,800ha station and Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation in 2017.
Centre pivots are commonplace in the Kimberley and Pilbara where pastoralists use the method to drought-proof their properties by growing fodder on the lease.
Pardoo Station near Port Hedland has amassed one of the largest such operations since being purchased in 2014 by Singaporean investor Bruce Cheung.
By late 2019, 20 centre pivots had been installed and plans were drawn up for a further 12 to feed its prized Wagyu cattle herd.
ACE's annual financial statement revealed as of June the company held 41,495 head of cattle valued at $35.8 million.
While the headcount had grown by about 800 since June 2022, the livestock herd's value was down about $7.5 million.
Average value per head had fallen from $1066 to $864, largely due to a substantial drop in calves and young cattle prices.