Mr SETTER - 1996-02-22
The minister would be aware of the enormous growth in the horticultural industry in the Northern Territory over the last decade or so, particularly in the Darwin rural area, in Florina Road near Katherine, at Ti Tree and in various other areas. I am concerned that, because the expansion has been so great and so rapid, availability of land suitable for use for horticultural development may be becoming scarce. What plans has he in place, no doubt in liaison with the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, to make additional land available for these purposes?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, indeed, all honourable members will be aware of the explosion in growth experienced in the horticultural sector in the Northern Territory in the last 10 years. The government is well aware of the potential for horticulture in the Northern Territory, not only in producing economic wealth but also in producing many sustainable jobs. As an example of jobs that can be produced, there is one job per hectare of bananas planted. By the end of next year, it is expected that that industry will expand to cover 500 ha.
The government is very proactive in identifying land and land resources that are suitable for horticulture. A committee has been established involving my department, the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment and the Power and Water Authority, plus some other instrumentalities. It is charged with the job of identifying suitable land resources and proving up those resources to enable them to be released for horticulture. Some of the sites we have identified in recent times include land on Singleton Station and on Murray Downs. It came as a great surprise to me that there is a highly prospective area around the Barkly Homestead that is indicated to be suitable for horticulture. Obviously, we have identified land in the Katherine
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area, in the Venn subdivision. This year, we have moved to release more land there. There is substantial land at Berry Springs which is currently vacant Crown land. The soil and water resources there seem such that those areas should be released for horticulture.
The interest shown both by Northern Territorians and people interstate in the horticulture potential of the Northern Territory is nothing short of astonishing. In recent times, the government advertised for the release of 6 blocks at Lambells Lagoon. These ranged in size from 16 ha to 62 ha. So far, we have received well in excess of 60 expressions of interest in those blocks, applications for which will close on 29 February. Then they will be assessed by a committee involving representatives from my department, the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment and the Department of Asian Relations, Trade and Industry. The extent of the interest shown in those particular blocks has led the government to accelerate the release of further land at Lambells South. Hopefully, in the middle of this year, we will be advertising a further 17 blocks in that area, ranging in size from 25 ha to 250 ha.
In releasing those blocks of land, the government has to be very mindful of water resources and the availability of water. As a result, all of these first 6 blocks will have a water allocation attached to them, which the owners will not be allowed to exceed. In addition to that, we will be putting bores on the perimeter of this subdivision in order to monitor the aquifer over a period of time. Such water restrictions will apply also to land at Lambells South when that comes on stream. However, given the vast resources that are in Lambells Lagoon alone, without even taking into consideration the Wildman River area that we are also investigating in relation to horticultural potential, I believe that, in the next 5 years, the Northern Territory will see even more explosive and rapid growth in the horticultural sector.
I invite any members who might dispute that to take a trip out to Lambells Lagoon to see what both Top Banana and Chiquita have done in only a few months there. I am told that the land around Darwin is at least the equivalent of that in Honduras for growing bananas. Not only do we have exceptional growing conditions, but the area is free of such pests of bananas as bunchy top and black sigatoka. Given the freedom we have from those diseases, there is also good potential here to land product on the Japanese organically-grown market. As I said, the government is very proactive in identifying and releasing land for horticulture. We will continue to do that.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, indeed, all honourable members will be aware of the explosion in growth experienced in the horticultural sector in the Northern Territory in the last 10 years. The government is well aware of the potential for horticulture in the Northern Territory, not only in producing economic wealth but also in producing many sustainable jobs. As an example of jobs that can be produced, there is one job per hectare of bananas planted. By the end of next year, it is expected that that industry will expand to cover 500 ha.
The government is very proactive in identifying land and land resources that are suitable for horticulture. A committee has been established involving my department, the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment and the Power and Water Authority, plus some other instrumentalities. It is charged with the job of identifying suitable land resources and proving up those resources to enable them to be released for horticulture. Some of the sites we have identified in recent times include land on Singleton Station and on Murray Downs. It came as a great surprise to me that there is a highly prospective area around the Barkly Homestead that is indicated to be suitable for horticulture. Obviously, we have identified land in the Katherine
Page 1208
area, in the Venn subdivision. This year, we have moved to release more land there. There is substantial land at Berry Springs which is currently vacant Crown land. The soil and water resources there seem such that those areas should be released for horticulture.
The interest shown both by Northern Territorians and people interstate in the horticulture potential of the Northern Territory is nothing short of astonishing. In recent times, the government advertised for the release of 6 blocks at Lambells Lagoon. These ranged in size from 16 ha to 62 ha. So far, we have received well in excess of 60 expressions of interest in those blocks, applications for which will close on 29 February. Then they will be assessed by a committee involving representatives from my department, the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment and the Department of Asian Relations, Trade and Industry. The extent of the interest shown in those particular blocks has led the government to accelerate the release of further land at Lambells South. Hopefully, in the middle of this year, we will be advertising a further 17 blocks in that area, ranging in size from 25 ha to 250 ha.
In releasing those blocks of land, the government has to be very mindful of water resources and the availability of water. As a result, all of these first 6 blocks will have a water allocation attached to them, which the owners will not be allowed to exceed. In addition to that, we will be putting bores on the perimeter of this subdivision in order to monitor the aquifer over a period of time. Such water restrictions will apply also to land at Lambells South when that comes on stream. However, given the vast resources that are in Lambells Lagoon alone, without even taking into consideration the Wildman River area that we are also investigating in relation to horticultural potential, I believe that, in the next 5 years, the Northern Territory will see even more explosive and rapid growth in the horticultural sector.
I invite any members who might dispute that to take a trip out to Lambells Lagoon to see what both Top Banana and Chiquita have done in only a few months there. I am told that the land around Darwin is at least the equivalent of that in Honduras for growing bananas. Not only do we have exceptional growing conditions, but the area is free of such pests of bananas as bunchy top and black sigatoka. Given the freedom we have from those diseases, there is also good potential here to land product on the Japanese organically-grown market. As I said, the government is very proactive in identifying and releasing land for horticulture. We will continue to do that.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016