The Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) delivery system was built in the early 1960s and it was considered state of the art technology. Very little was done to introduce new technology into the system through the 70’s and 90’s.

Today water efficiency and channel automation are key priorities. Automated Channel Gates are gradually being introduced throughout the irrigation area in key locations for better system management, more accurate water accounting and improved delivery system efficiency.

The Ord Dam provides a reliable storage of 11,000 gigalitres in Lake Argyle of which 335 gigalitres are allocated to Stage 1 of the Ord River Irrigation Area.

Water is released from Lake Argyle through the Ord hydro power supply and through controlled releases through the Water Corporations regulating valves at the base of the dam. An additional flow is also released through the Spillway Plug into Spillway Creek to provide a dry season flow.  

These combined releases comprise the inflow into Lake Kununurra which, through the operation of the Kununurra Diversion Dam, provides the head required to supply the gravity channel network of the Ivanhoe Plains system and the Packsaddle pumping station.

Water is gravity fed to farms via a series of earth lined open supply channels, using a range of flow regulator structures.

Ord Irrigation Co-operative

The Ord Irrigation Co-operative (OIC) was formed to operate and manage the business of providing water and drainage services to the farms within Stage 1 of the ORIA as part of the transfer of the irrigation assets and business from the State to the growers. The OIC is owned by the growers and is a not for profit organisation whose irrigation chares are determined by the level of funding required to manage, operate and maintain the infrastructure. A Board comprising 6 share holder directors is responsible for the governance of the organisation.

The OIC’s Mission Statement is: "To foster prosperous irrigated agricultural and horticultural industries in the Ord Irrigation District (Western Australia) through the delivery of agreed Irrigation and drainage to all customers in an efficient, environmentally sustainable and financially viable manner."

Ord Irrigation Asset Mutual Co-operative

The Ord Irrigation Asset Mutual Co-operative (OIAMC) was formed as the company that owns the irrigation assets that were transferred to the growers. The OIAMC is also owned by the growers and collects an asset levy which is intended to provide an adequate source of funds to undertake any capital works required. A Board comprising 3 share holder directors is responsible for the governance of the organisation.