Progressing Key Projects
Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd ('Tasmanian Irrigation')
was established on 1 July 2011 as a State-owned Company responsible for
development and operation of a suite of irrigation schemes.
This has been undertaken through three Tranches of irrigation scheme development. Funding for Tranche Three is currently being sought (as at July 2019).
The primary aim of the schemes developed by Tasmanian Irrigation is to grow the wealth of Tasmania by developing and enhancing the productive capacity of the State's agricultural industries.
Tasmanian Irrigation progresses the schemes from
feasibility assessment through to the construction and operational stages.
The Schemes
Tasmanian Irrigation manages 16 irrigation schemes (see table below) and owns the infrastructure of two locally managed schemes (Cressy Longford Irrigation Scheme and Winnaleah Irrigation Scheme).
The Scottsdale Irrigation Scheme is currently under construction (as at July 2019) and is expected to be completed in early 2020. It will supply 8,600 ML.
The 16 Schemes operated by Tasmanian Irrigation supply water to over 1000 customers and include pre-Tranche One (inherited), Tranche One and Tranche Three schemes.
Scheme
| Status
| Annual volume (ML)
| Region
|
Dial-Blythe
| Tranche 1
| 2 855
| North West
|
Duck
| Tranche 2
| 5 200
| North West
|
Great Forester
| Tranche 1
| 1 980
| North East
|
Greater Meander
| Inherited
| 36 000
| North
|
Kindred-North Motton
| Tranche 1
| 2 500
| North West
|
Lower South Esk
| Tranche 1
| 5 298
| North
|
Midlands
| Tranche 1
| 38 500
| South
|
North Esk
| Tranche 2
| 4 685
| North East
|
Sassafras-Wesley Vale
| Tranche 1
| 5 460
| North West
|
Sorell
(South East Stage 3)
| Tranche 1
| 3 000
| South East
|
South East Stage 1
| Inherited
| 2 650
| South East
|
South East Stage 2
| Inherited
| 1 975
| Southe East
|
Southern Highlands
| Tranche 2
| 7 215
| South
|
Swan Valley
| Tranche 2
| 2 000
| East
|
Upper Ringarooma
| Tranche 1
| 5 700
| North East
|
Tranche Three: The Pipeline to Prosperity Progam
Tranche Three builds on Tasmanian Irrigation's successful delivery of Tranche One and Tranche Two Schemes. The Pipeline to Prosperity Program (Tranche Three) consists of ten possible projects across Tasmania, including eight new schemes as well as two scheme augmentations.
Phase One includes four new schemes - Don, Fingal, Northern Midlands and Tamar, and one project to augment the existing Sassafras-Wesley Vale scheme.
Phase Two includes consideration of new schemes in the Detention, Flowerdale, Harcus and Southern Midlands areas, as well as augmentation to the South East Irrigation Scheme.
Funding
On 1 April DPIPWE submitted a request for funding under the Australian Government's National Water Infrastructure Development Fund for up to half of the total estimated allowable capital cost of the Pipeline to Prosperity program. This includes $75 million which is the requested amount to co-fund Phase One of the program which contains the first five irrigation projects.
The Tasmanian Government has committed $70 million to support construction of the Pipeline to Prosperity Schemes. The Australian Government has committed $100 million to support the roll-out of the program, provided the projects meet the usual feasbility criteria.
The current combined commitment by both Governments of $170 million, plus the investment from farmers in water entitlements, is sufficient to see at least the first five irrigation projects proceed while Tasmanian Irrigation continues with the plannng for the other proposed schemes.
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Further Information
See the Tasmanian Irrigation website for information on specific irrigation schemes: www.tasmanianirrigation.com.au
Tranche Three - https://www.tasmanianirrigation.com.au/future-irrigation