Today’s official opening of the Kimberley Cotton Gin. Photo: Regional Development and Kimberley Minister Stephen Dawson

THE ORD Valley cotton industry has reached a significant milestone with today’s opening of the Kimberley Cotton Gin in Kununurra.

The $60-million facility is owned by Kimberley Cotton Company, a consortium of local growers including the Ord River District Co-operative, traditional owners Miriuwung Gajerrong Corporation, Kimberley Agricultural Investment, Prime Grain, and Namoi Cotton.

The gin has already commenced operation, with an initial processing capacity of about 100,000 bales per year.

The 79ha gin site is serviced by a 100-percent renewable power supply using low emission hydroelectricity, which is set to satisfy global market demand for low-emissions cotton fibre.

Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said the gin was a major step in establishing a profitable and sustainable cotton industry for the region.

“This state-of-the-art facility represents far more than just infrastructure – it’s the foundation of an entirely new industry for the Kimberley region,” Ms King said.

“The Kimberley Cotton Gin Project has the potential to transform the cotton industry across the Kimberley and into nearby parts of the Northern Territory by ensuring locally grown cotton can be processed and prepared directly for the market.”

The project is expected to create more than 1000 jobs over the next decade, and drive economic growth and employment opportunities in the region.

WA premier Roger Cook said the state government has invested $9 million to enable the project, including $5M through the WA Investment Attraction Fund and $4M million to provide land and a renewable power supply.

“My government is focused on diversifying Western Australia’s economy with this milestone marking the launch of an exciting new industry for our State’s north,” Mr Cook said.

WA Regional Development and Kimberley Minister Stephen Dawson with Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna and Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King. Photo: Stephen Dawson

“The opening of the Kimberley Cotton Gin is a significant achievement that follows years of collaboration between industry, traditional owners, the local community, and government.

“This is a new era for sustainable cotton production in WA, set to inject millions of dollars into our state’s economy over the coming years and generate quality jobs for the people of the Kimberley region.”

The project has also been supported by a $34M loan through the Federal Government’s Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.

The WA Government funded the high-voltage supply line and upgraded the network to deliver clean power from Pac Hydro’s Lake Argyle generation system.

In 2024, the WA Government unlocked 5500ha at Knox Plain via a development lease to the Kimberley Agricultural Investment, which together with partners Keep Farming and other growers, will build cotton supply and scale to support the gin.

This agricultural expansion is underpinned by a $77M WA Government investment, through the Water Corporation, to upgrade the main water supply channel to supply water from Lake Argyle to the Knox development.

The WA Government-backed WA Agricultural Research Collaboration will be driving research to explore the use of cotton and other irrigated crop by-products as livestock feed to add further value to the Kimberley economy.

Source: WA Government