Singleton Station
| Company type | Pastoral lease |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Headquarters | Central Australia , Australia |
Area served | Northern Territory |
| Owner | Fortune Agribusiness |
Singleton Station operates as a pastoral lease situated in Central Australia, within the Northern Territory of Australia.
History
Positioned on the ancestral territory of the Kaytetye people, Singleton Station is found approximately 400 kilometres north of Alice Springs, close to Ali Curung. The property spans an area of 294,000 hectares and has been under the ownership of Fortune Agribusiness since 2016.
Water licence controversy
In September 2020, Fortune Agribusiness applied for a water extraction licence to establish a $150 million fruit and vegetable farming enterprise covering 3,500 hectares at Singleton Station. By April 2021, the Northern Territory Government approved a licence permitting the withdrawal of 40,000 megalitres—the largest groundwater extraction permit ever issued in the Northern Territory. Due to the project's magnitude, a Tier 3 Environmental Impact Statement is mandated before any development can proceed, a process expected to span several years.
The traditional custodians have expressed opposition to the initiative, citing potential threats to water resources and the presence of 40 sacred cultural sites within the area affected by groundwater drawdown. The shallow aquifer system may experience declines in water levels ranging from 5 to 50 metres across a radius of 50 kilometres, posing risks to ecosystems reliant on this water source. Despite these concerns and undergoing formal review, the licence was renewed in November 2021 with supplementary conditions attached.
Community groups responded by establishing the Water Justice Project, which includes participation from Running Water Community Press, Arlpwe Art and Culture Centre, and the Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC). In February 2022, legal proceedings were initiated by the Mpwerempwer Aboriginal Corporation alongside ALEC against both the Northern Territory Government and Fortune Agribusiness, challenging the legality of the licence approval process. The court dismissed the case in February 2024; ALEC chose not to pursue an appeal, whereas Mpwerempwer Aboriginal Corporation has lodged an appeal with legal representation from the Central Land Council.
Before any development can move forward, Fortune Agribusiness is required to finalize an environmental impact statement, with completion anticipated around late 2025.