WA Govt delays irrigation scheme again

Monday, June 18, 2007

There has been an angry response to more delays in the expansion of the Ord Irrigation Scheme in far north-west Western Australia.

After calling for expressions of interest in the second stage of the scheme last year, the State Government now wants to reopen the process.

It also plans to expand the development area across the border into the Northern Territory, covering a total of 30,000 hectares.

Nationals MP Murray Criddle has slammed the move saying it will drag the process out even further.

"The decision has been put off and put off and put off and now we've got to the frustrating stage where nothing looks like happening for quite some time," he said.

"If there is an expectation that the Commonwealth Government will come into this, then obviously we're looking at three or five years before anything happens."

Sourced from ABC.