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| Kimberley Development Commission | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Kimberley Development Commission |
| Formed | 1994 |
| Jurisdiction | Kimberley region, Western Australia |
| Headquarters | Broome |
| Parent agency | State Government of Western Australia |
Kimberley Development Commission
The Kimberley Development Commission is a regional development authority in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, focused on planning, investment, infrastructure, and stakeholder coordination across remote and Indigenous communities. It operates within a network of state and federal bodies, Aboriginal corporations, local governments, resource companies, and conservation organizations to promote sustainable development in towns such as Broome, Derby, Kununurra and Wyndham.
The Commission engages with the Government of Western Australia, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (Western Australia), the Department of Communities (Western Australia), the Department of Transport (Western Australia), and the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety to align regional priorities with state strategies. It liaises with the Commonwealth of Australia, particularly the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (Australia), and intersects with national agencies like the Australian Trade and Investment Commission and the Australian Bureau of Statistics on demographic, investment and market data. The Commission works alongside peak Indigenous bodies such as the Kimberley Land Council, the Yamal Indigenous Corporation, the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia and numerous Prescribed Body Corporates and Native Title groups. It engages with regional municipalities including the Shire of Broome, the Shire of Derby–West Kimberley, the Shire of Halls Creek, and the Shire of Wyndham–East Kimberley. Key economic partners include resource companies like Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals Group, and BHP, pastoral interests represented by groups such as the Western Australian Farmers Federation, tourism operators like those linked to the Tourism Western Australia network, and aviation stakeholders including Kununurra Airport and Broome International Airport. The Commission contributes to strategies referencing national initiatives like the Northern Australia Strategic Partnership and regional programs such as the Regional Development Australia network.
Established in 1994 under Western Australian regional development reforms, the Commission traces origins to state reviews that involved the Parliament of Western Australia and consultations with agencies including the Department of Regional Development (Western Australia). Early milestones included coordination with the Ord River Irrigation Scheme, engagement with the Horticulture industry in the East Kimberley, and responses to events such as the 1990s mining expansions involving companies like Chevron and Alcoa. The Commission’s formation paralleled the creation of other regional bodies such as the Pilbara Development Commission and the Mid West Development Commission, and it has since interfaced with inquiries led by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Western Australia) on governance standards and with regional planning processes under the State Planning Commission (Western Australia). It has navigated major episodes including cyclones that affected Cyclone Inigo, droughts affecting pastoral stations managed by entities like Seafarms Group, and the evolving recognition of Native Title through cases like Mabo v Queensland (No 2) and subsequent Western Australian determinations.
The Commission is overseen by a board appointed under state legislation, with membership drawn from private sector leaders, Indigenous representatives, and local government delegates. It reports to ministers within the Western Australian Cabinet and coordinates with statutory agencies including the Economic Regulation Authority (Western Australia) and the Western Australian Treasury Corporation. Administrative functions link to the Public Sector Commission (Western Australia), and procurement or project delivery often involves contractors registered with bodies such as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and construction firms active in the region, including suppliers to the Gorgon gas project and other petroleum ventures. The governance model emphasizes partnership with Indigenous corporations like the Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr Aboriginal Corporation and landholders represented by organisations such as the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association where cross-border arrangements exist.
The Commission delivers regional planning, investment facilitation, industry development, and community capacity-building. Programmatic areas encompass agricultural development linked to the Ord River Scheme, tourism promotion in conjunction with Austrade and Destination Perth, infrastructure advocacy for port projects like Port of Wyndham and road corridors such as the Great Northern Highway, and workforce initiatives aligning with training institutions including North Regional TAFE and universities such as The University of Western Australia and Curtin University. It administers grant programs consistent with federal schemes like the Australian Government’s Regional Growth Fund and state programs coordinated via the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (Western Australia). The Commission supports cultural heritage projects involving bodies like the Australian Heritage Council, archaeological research with partners from institutions such as the Australian National University, and biosecurity measures coordinated with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia).
Economic development work spans sectors including minerals and energy linked to companies such as Woodside Petroleum and Santos, pastoralism tied to corporations and pastoral leases, horticulture evidenced by enterprises like Seafarms Group and export chains through agencies like the Australian Border Force and Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (Australia). The Commission promotes tourism nodes such as the Horizontal Falls, Cable Beach, and the Bungle Bungle Range in liaison with park managers like the Parks and Wildlife Service (Western Australia). It fosters supply-chain linkages with freight operators like Qantas Freight and maritime services including the Pilbara Ports Authority. Investment attraction aligns with programs by Industry Capability Network and regional advocacy in forums such as the Council of Australian Governments and the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
Environmental stewardship includes collaboration with conservation organisations like the World Wildlife Fund, the Australian Conservation Foundation, and Indigenous ranger programs funded through the Working on Country initiative and administered by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation. The Commission works with statutory environmental regulators such as the Environmental Protection Authority (Western Australia) and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (Western Australia) on safeguards for ecosystems including the Dampier Peninsula, Camden Sound, and the Ord River. Cultural management partnerships involve the Kimberley Land Council, native title holders, museums such as the Western Australian Museum, and heritage registers administered by the Australian Heritage Council.
Funding sources combine state appropriations via the Treasurer of Western Australia, federal grants from programs administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (Australia), project co-investment by private firms including BHP and Rio Tinto, philanthropic contributions from foundations like the Ian Potter Foundation, and matched funding with local governments such as the Shire of Broome. Strategic partnerships extend to multilateral coordination with entities like the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation for research, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency for energy projects, and international trade facilitation through Austrade and bilateral initiatives involving countries such as Japan and China.