PHADI Research Project

The Pilbara Hinterland Agricultural Development Initiative (PHADI) is a research project designed to investigate the feasibility of establishing irrigated agriculture in the Pilbara, using surplus mine dewater and other in-situ water resources. The Western Australian Government, through Cabinet, approved the PHADI in December 2013. The four year, $12.5 million initiative is funded by Royalties for Regions, which is administered through the Pilbara Development Commission (PDC). The program is managed by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA), in partnership with the PDC and the Department of Regional Development (DRD).

The Woodie Woodie Pilot Project (WWPP) is a pilot project for the PHADI which utilises water abstracted from the Woodie Woodie Manganese Mine, located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, approximately 300 km southeast of Port Hedland and 100 km west of Telfer. The WWPP consists of a 38 hectare centre pivot, located on Warrawagine Station. The agricultural area is located 5 km northwest of the mine site. In association with DAFWA, the project is managed by AgGrow Energy Resources (AER) and Global Groundwater (GGW), with operational management subcontracted to AFS Agriculture. AFS Agriculture – through the application of their Smart Farming System – will manage the nutritional and water requirements of the various crops to be trialled at the WWPP.