NT's largest water licence decision upheld
A massive Central Australian horticulture project will get to keep the biggest water licence granted in the Northern Territory.
Fortune Agribusiness plans to build a 3500-hectare irrigated fruit and vegetable farm at Singleton cattle station, about 380 kilometres north of Alice Springs.
It was awarded a licence to extract 40 billion litres of underground water annually for 30 years, causing concern among Indigenous groups and environmentalists.
It triggered an independent review of the licence, with the panel finding the decision to grant it was largely correct.
However, the review has suggested some additional licensing conditions.
This means the original water extraction licence has been cancelled and a new substituted licence has been supplied detailing "improved and additional conditions".
These include a detailed assessment of the water resources on Singleton Station and a cultural values impact assessment.
Fortune will also need to demonstrate that its project will not result in unacceptable impact on water dependent cultural values.
The farm will cultivate permanent crops such as mandarins, grapes and avocados with potential annual production revenue of $180 million.
About 110 full-time jobs and 1350 seasonal jobs are expected to be on offer along with opportunities for businesses in nearby towns, such as Tennant Creek.
The groundwater is expected to be released to Fortune in four stages over the next decade, peaking at 40,000 megalitres through about 100 bores.
