Transforming Agriculture in the Pilbara

Transforming Agriculture in the Pilbara (TAP) is an initiative of the Western Australian state government aimed at establishing a practical and achievable vision for medium- to large-scale irrigated agricultural production in the Pilbara, utilising surplus mine dewater and other in-situ water resources

TAP overview

The Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has identified priority areas across the state where investigations are required to assess the capacity for development of irrigated agriculture and related businesses, including areas in the Pilbara. CSIRO has contributed to the TAP initiative and completed an investigation of opportunities for water resource development in three regions, which differ significantly in their physical characteristics and, as a consequence, the extent to and methods by which agricultural development might occur:

  • The Newman region, as an option for using surplus water resulting from mine dewatering.
  • The Karratha-Hinterland coastal region, as an option for harvesting surface water and groundwater, potentially supported by managed aquifer recharge.
  • The De Grey and Shaw rivers, as an option for harvesting surface water.

Each study region was identified by DPIRD as a potential area for future irrigation development, subject to water availability and soil suitability. Some key details about the Newman region are provided below, with further information available in the technical and summary reports listed at the end of this section.

 

The Pilbara landscape

Opportunities for irrigated agriculture using managed aquifer recharge in the Newman region

In the Newman region, the potential for MAR was estimated as 5–50 GL/year to provide a water supply for irrigated agriculture, supporting 400 ha to nearly 1000 ha, depending on water availability and crop water demands. The potential source water for MAR is surplus mine dewater generated from the large BHP iron ore operations in the proximity of Newman.

The Newman region has several advantages that present opportunities for the establishment of an irrigated agricultural district—soils suitable for irrigated agriculture development on the Fortescue River alluvial fan; proximity to local infrastructure (railways connected to the ports); and proximity to the town of Newman, the major regional service centre.

To support irrigated agricultural development in the region, water resources are critical. In this study the potential use of surplus mine water for irrigation, deploying managed aquifer recharge (MAR), was explored and reported here. The assessment included analysis of existing information, new data acquired by the TAP team, with support from BHP Billiton Iron Ore, groundwater modelling, and a MAR risk assessment, undertaken according to national and Western Australian MAR guidelines.

Newman in the Pilbara, Western Australia

Find out more

Project reports available from

Summary reports

 

Technical Report

Karratha-Hinterland region

Newman Region

Shaw River region

De Grey River Catchment

 

Project leader

Dr Olga Barron (olga.barron@csiro.au).

Dr Michael Donn (michael.donn@csiro.au)