30 December 2021
Guy Barnett, Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to using water wisely, including when it comes to sustainable irrigation projects.
Irrigation plays a vital role by future proofing agriculture against drought and climate change, while also supporting our agricultural businesses to grow and be more efficient.
Tenders have now closed for construction of the $29 million Don Irrigation Scheme, which will deliver liquid gold to landowners in North-West Tasmania and it is expected that the successful tenderer will be announced next month.
The Don Irrigation Scheme will involve the laying of 67kms of pipeline and the construction of three pump stations.
The high-surety irrigation water will enable farmers around Don to diversify, expand, increase rotations, value add and invest in additional infrastructure that will assist the Tasmanian Government reach its ambitious target of increasing the farm-gate value of the State’s agricultural sector to $10 billion by 2050.
Thank you to the Tasmanian Irrigation team for its ongoing hard work to deliver up to 133,000 megalitres of irrigation water to farmers around the State, as well as progressing the first five irrigation projects as part of Tranche Three.
Construction of the Don Irrigation Scheme is expected to conclude and water forecast to flow in 2023.
The Tasmanian Government invested more than $30 million in the 2021-22 Tasmanian Budget to continue delivering our nation-leading irrigation projects across our state, while also protecting environmental values and river health.
When completed, Pipeline to Prosperity project is expected to provide more than 78,000 megalitres of water, create up to 2,600 full-time jobs, trigger an additional $150 million in on-farm private investment and inject an estimated $114 million each year into the sector, and economy more broadly.
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