Owned by the Kimberly Cotton Company, the $60 million Kimberley Cotton Gin cotton gin facility has officially opened in Kununurra, Australia, heralding a new era for the region's cotton industry.
The new facility will eliminate the need for local farmers to transport their cotton over 2,175 miles (3,500 k,) to Queensland for processing. This move is expected to significantly cut costs and streamline operations.
According to Daniel Draheim, Construction Manager, Namoi Cotton, the project is a game-changer as a big part of cotton and growing cotton is logistics. The processing facility will provide the capacity for the already successful industry to expand, he notes.
The facility is slated to initially process between 100,000 and 120,000 bales annually and is projected to create more than 1,000 jobs over the next decade. Cotton grown in the area will not only be processed locally but also exported through the nearby Wyndham Port.
Tony Chafer, CEO, Cambridge Gulf, states, the port is working to secure First Point of Entry status to handle container imports—a crucial step that will facilitate cotton exports. During a visit to Kununurra in January, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the federal government's support for granting First Point of Entry status to Wyndham Port. The Western Australian government has also pledged $14 million to upgrade port infrastructure.
Madeleine King, Federal Resources Minister and state government representatives were among the hundreds who attended the official opening of the Kimberley Cotton Gin. The federal government's $34 million loan through the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) will be the most impactful, notes King. Built on a 196-acre (79.4-hectare) site, the gin operates entirely on hydro-electricity, making its power supply 100% renewable.
