Cape York has the land and water to exceed the Murray Darling Basin and be sustainable

The Murray-Darling Basin generates $15 billion per year in agricultural output, that’s 40% of Australia’s agricultural production coming from a region with 65% of Australia’s irrigated farms.

The 35 million megalitre outflow of some Cape Rivers is 4 times the flow of the Murray and Darling rivers. With flood-harvesting, off-river lakes, and smart infrastructure, enterprises can be completely sustainable.

The KBFE uses water and land resources more efficiently than other schemes. It stores water in off-river billabongs that become part of the river ecosystem, only offtakes water in large flows, has deeper storage and less evaporation, and does not let cold oxygen-starved water into rivers.

Because it uses all water three times and has twice the value per mega litre of water than Cubbie Station or Burdekin Irrigation systems, the KBFE will provide over ten times the usual return from single crop sorghum, maize grain legume or stock feed irrigation schemes.

A network of BioFutures Enterprises will introduce $1.5b per year to Cape York, and the economic benefits will be kept in the community

25000+ jobs will be introduced to the communities, approximately 4400 per enterprise. The influx of people will provide additional economic benefits and opportunities for new businesses to flourish in agriculture, tourism, and energy.

Substantial shareholding will be retained to benefit future generations of the Kowanyama and Pompuraaw communities, especially Traditional Owners – with a target of 25% of the enterprise to be retained by Traditional Owners.

Providing Cape York communities with an economic future beyond mining

We believe in providing an economic future for Cape York that utilises the region’s natural assets and resources – but doesn’t exploit them. We believe that our locals shouldn’t have to leave their community for jobs and opportunities. And we want a future where our community becomes empowered – where they become partners, not landlords.

Our supporters are specialists and experts in their industries and communities; and better yet, they’re dedicated to the success of the project.

Anthony Penrith

Anthony is an Aboriginal entrepreneur who has spent the last 30 years across working with Aboriginal communities throughout Cape York and Gulf, Central Australia and Western NSW. He has a proven track record in government liaison, negotiation, strategy development/implementation and executive communication and engagement. He has led QLD Government teams to develop policies (such as Alcohol Management, Stolen Wages and Reparations and Business Development across Cape York) and he has managed research projects for the Rainforest Aboriginal Peoples Alliance for Far North Queensland.

Anthony is co-owner of Gamarard, a 100% Aboriginal owned company, and Kowanyama BioFutures Enterprise, working with Aboriginal communities around economic, social and health projects for the past 7 years.

Desley Thompson

Desley is co-founder of Gamarard Consulting and is now manager of the National Best Practice Unit tackling Indigenous Smoking. He has over 20 years experience supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Far North Queensland, including education, employment, child care and health initiatives.

John A. Maclean

John Maclean has over 40 years of experience in the engineering profession. In 1980, John commenced John A. Maclean and Associates (later becoming Arcadis Consulting) and, as a professional Engineer, contributed as a Director on the advisory boards of Brisbane Works and Brisbane Water, both business units within the Brisbane City Council. The Brisbane Forest Park advisory board also benefited from John’s wide ranging experience.

Kaye E. Basford

Kaye is an experienced independent non-executive director on international, national and state boards across industry and government sectors. She is an expert in statistical and agricultural research with global expertise in food security. Her experience is in leadership, strategy setting, financial management and corporate governance within the tertiary sector, professional and R&D enterprises. She has a record of success in implementing revised governance structures and building strong and influential partnerships across education and corporate entities.