The West Australian Government is being urged by a Native Title Group not to bow to pressure to open up the mighty Fitzroy River in the state's north to large-scale irrigation.

Key points: Some local Indigenous groups are opposed to surface water extraction of the Fitzroy River because of its biodiversity and cultural value

Some local Indigenous groups are opposed to surface water extraction of the Fitzroy River because of its biodiversity and cultural value A Bunuba man said creating a national park in the region would create about 20 jobs for local Indigenous people

A Bunuba man said creating a national park in the region would create about 20 jobs for local Indigenous people Pastoralists in the region say a water allocation plan would transform the northern cattle industry and create economic opportunities

Nearly three years since Labor made an election promise to stimulate economic development in the region, pastoralists have been lobbying for a long-awaited water allocation plan.

But a key Aboriginal group involved in the difficult negotiations is urging the Government to take all the time it needs.

Bunuba leader, Joe Ross ( ABC Kimberley: Vanessa Mills )

The Bunuba people, one of several Aboriginal groups whose traditional lands covered the massive Fitzroy catchment, have been against plans to harness hundreds of gigalitres of water to expand and drought-proof the cattle industry.

Bunuba man, Joe Ross, said the Fitzroy River was important because of its biodiversity and its value in supporting the law and culture of several language groups.

"The catchment is one of the last great tropical freshwater systems in the world," Mr Ross said.

"We're totally opposed to any surface [water] extraction."

The new national park will start from Geike Gorge and is likely to head north along the Fitzroy river and east along the Margaret River. ( Supplied: Hugh Brown )

Time running out

The heritage-listed Fitzroy River runs 730 kilometres across the Kimberley region, traversing some of the region's most spectacular scenery and dozens of pastoral leases.

Before the last WA election in 2017, Labor promised to develop a management plan for the 93,000km² catchment that involved creating a new national park and providing a basis for sustainable economic development.

Over the past two years, the Government has been trying to find common ground between pastoralists, environmental groups and traditional owners.

But, with just over a year to the next state election, pastoralists have been worried that not enough progress has been made.

The Fitzroy catchment spans 94,000 square kilometres and 95 per cent of it is covered by pastoral leases. ( ABC News: Ginny Stein )

Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen's Association (KPCA) chief executive, Emma White, said pastoralists expected to have much more clarity by this stage in the negotiations.

"If anything there appears to be a lack of momentum," Ms White said.

"They really only have about a year left to effectively govern and there are some complexities to these things.

"The state and the agencies involved do need to provide a comprehensive update to stakeholders to further build on what was presented in February last year."

Several different Aboriginal language groups live in the Fitzroy River catchment and have a strong cultural connection to the waterway. ( ABC News: Vanessa Mills )

'Got to be done right'

Mr Ross said the Bunuba's focus was on creating the national park because it would deliver about 20 new ranger jobs and economic opportunities for his people.

"The Bunuba people are major stakeholders in this as we are very much pro national parks," Mr Ross said.

Sorry, this audio has expired "Be patient": Water minister tells frustrated pastoralists on Fitzroy river talks

"It provides ranger positions and economic opportunities that will go well beyond any other industries that are currently in the Kimberley at the moment."

He said the negotiations were going well on the park but the water allocation plan was more complex.

"They [the pastoral industry] are frustrated at the way bureaucracy moves, but … fortunately for the environment and fortunately for the cultural sustainability of this country, governments go about it in good faith," Mr Ross said.

"And they'll need to tick every box, cross every little 't', and dot every little 'i' to ensure that we all come out with a mutual outcome.

Conservation group, Environs Kimberley, held a rally with traditional owners in October 2019 calling on the Government to protect the Fitzroy. ( Supplied: Damian Kelly )

"As to the catchment management plan and the water planning processes, whether that takes this cycle of Government or four more cycles of Government, it's got to be done right.

"And it's got to have science backing up the decision-making."

Time to act is now

But, after more than 15 years experience farming in the area, development manager of Go Go Station, Phil Hams, said the time to act was now.

Mr Hams said a well-regulated water allocation plan would transform the northern cattle industry in an area crying out for economic opportunities.

"One of the main drivers should be that desperate need to create meaningful work opportunities," Mr Hams said.

"We need to develop and improve the existing industries like the cattle industry, perhaps get into feedlotting to create those extra jobs.

"It's not going to happen the day after tomorrow [but] that would be a step forward."

Gogo development manager Phil Hams believes growing irrigated fodder on-farm is the key to growing the Northern pastoral industry. ( ABC Rural: Courtney Fowler )

Gogo Station hoped to expand its fodder production with a 5,000-hectare irrigated agriculture development, which was being assessed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The station wanted to capture and store up to 50GL of floodwater from Blue Bush Creek, which connected to a tributary of the Fitzroy River.

But Mr Hams said there was no point progressing the proposal any further until the State Government provided some clarity on a water plan.

Minister calls on industry to 'be patient'

WA Water Minister, Dave Kelly, would not be drawn on whether the water plan was deliverable before the election and urged the cattle industry to be patient.

Dave Kelly says the WA government wants to avoid the mistakes of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. ( ABC News: Jacob Kagi )

"We're very keen to get this right, we don't want to rush it," he said.

"People are aware of the difficulties that are being experienced on the east coast with the Murray-Darling.

"As a Government, we're very keen not to repeat those mistakes."

According to a timeline released by Government authorities, draft plans were expected to be released in early-to-mid 2020.

Mr Kelly said the Government still hoped to release something during this year.

The Fitzroy River catchment spans about 94,000 square kilometres and about 40 cattle stations ( Supplied: Hugh Brown )

"Most people would appreciate that the Fitzroy is a very precious asset for the whole of Western Australia, if not Australia," he said.

"It's complicated science and it's also recognising and accommodating the aspirations of not just the pastoralists but the traditional owners."

A spokesperson for the Environment Minister, Stephen Dawson, said the proposed national park was on track for creation by the end of this year.

"The proposed scoping areas are being finalised with native title groups as part of the Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA) negotiations and are not ready for public release," the statement said.

"However, it is anticipated that this will occur soon for Bunuba and Gooniyandi country.

"Consultation with pastoralists and key stakeholders will then follow to enable finalisation of the national park boundaries."