Farmers harbour hopes as Cook Government plans to lobby for First Point of Entry status for Wyndham and Broome

For Kimberley growers like Fritz Bolten, being able to send and receive products safely and easily through local ports is essential to their business. That’s why Mr Bolton is one of many to welcome the Cook Government’s announcement to lobby for First Point of Entry status for the two Kimberley ports in Wyndham and Broome. FPOE ports are equipped with inspection resources and bio-security infrastructure, meaning they can receive shipments directly from overseas ports. Ports need to be approved by the Federal Government before they can receive FPOE status. Mr Bolten, who owns Oasis Farms in Kununurra, said FPOE status would be a great help for everyone in the Kimberley. His business uses the Wyndham port to receive fertiliser and to export a range of products including cotton. “We need to make sure our isolated communities have the same opportunities as communities do in the city,” he said. “FPOE status is a really easy way to do that. It will contribute to bridging the gap.” While growers like Mr Bolten can still get imports for products like fertiliser straight from overseas, the process is not straightforward and each shipment is treated on a case-by-case basis which can lead to delays. Federal quarantine officers and inspectors not local to the area need to be requested to come out and inspect shipments coming straight from foreign countries. Mr Bolten said this had been stressful in the past, especially when a ship was expected to dock but there was no one to inspect it. He cited an incident earlier this year where a shipment of fertiliser almost had to be diverted from Wyndham to Port Hedland because there was no one available for inspection. He said the stress and financial strain caused by not knowing if the shipment was able to come in or not was monumental. Cambridge Gulf Limited CEO Tony Chafer said the lack of an FPOE status for Kimberley ports added extra pressure to local businesses on top of the geographical distance. CGL manages the Wyndham port. “Our growers out here on the Ord are already disadvantaged enough by being where they are in Australia, and their distance from the markets,” Mr Chafer said. “Without this FPOE status, we’re just making it even harder for them.” The Cook Government’s endorsement of FPOE status for the Kimberley ports came with a report detailing recommendations on how the WA Government could improve the State’s supply chain security. The Shipping and Supply Chain Taskforce honed in on the major flooding in the Kimberley region earlier this year, and how it impacted local communities’ ability to get supplies. One of the recommendations was to bolster domestic sea trade and to establish a national maritime fleet to prevent an overreliance on land travel. While the application process is still ongoing, Mr Bolten maintained that an FPOE status would be a win-win for everyone. “This can be good for our tourism, and help so many sectors,” he said. “We’ve got a really fantastic opportunity to help our local community.”