A new $60 million cotton gin has opened in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, which is set to transform the industry
The new Kimberley Cotton Gin has officially opened in Kununurra in Western Australia’s north.
The $60 million high-tech processing facility is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs over the next decade and will significantly contribute to a sustainable and profitable WA cotton industry.
Kimberley Cotton Gin has already commenced operation, with an initial processing capacity of about 100,000 bales per year.
Covering 79.4 hectares, the cotton gin site is serviced by a 100 per cent renewable power supply using low emission hydroelectricity, which is set to satisfy global market demand for low emissions cotton fibre.
The new facility is owned by a consortium of local growers known as the Kimberley Cotton Company, which includes Ord River District Co-operative, Traditional Owners Miriuwung Gajerrong Corporation, Kimberley Agricultural Investment, Prime Grain Pty Ltd and Namoi Cotton Limited.
“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,” federal minister for resources and northern Australia Madeline King says.
“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 State 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.
