A joint venture between construction firm Leighton Holdings and government funded Indigenous Business Australia has recently won a public contract worth $A50 million. The partners got the contract by the government of West Australia for the first phase of the $A415 million project contract for the expansion of the Ord irrigation scheme. The partners got the contract to dig irrigation channels and build roads at the Ord irrigation development scheme in the Kimberley. Premier Colin Barnett provided this information today.

Under the contract, Leighton Holdings and Indigenous Business Australia will construct 19km of irrigation channel, a 13km road extension and irrigation control structures. The total irrigation area of the scheme would be doubled to 28000 hectares after the completion of the project.

West Australian government is considering this project as the most important project in the overall development of Australia's north. The government said that this project would be very beneficial for the economic development of the agriculture infrastructure and the social development of the indigenous people

"The project will deliver significant outcomes for the traditional owners in the region, the Miriuwung Gajerrong people, including extensive training, employment and business opportunities," said Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls.