​​​The final Program Report (available at the bottom of the page) for the Strategic Assessment for the Water Access Program, Midlands Water Scheme, Tasmania (2011) was endorsed by the federal Minister for the Environment on 11 April 2011.

The Program describes the policies, regulatory framework and processes in Tasmania that will govern how irrigation water is made available to the Midlands region of Tasmania whilst meeting commitments and undertakings for the protection and management of the matters of national environmental significance (MNES). It covers the proposed construction of two irrigation schemes: the Arthurs Pipeline Scheme and the Lower South Esk​ Scheme, the sourcing of water and the planning processes required at the farm level to receive water.

It also describes how the delivery of irrigation water fits into the framework and how these proposed irrigation developments will be sustainable.

The Program has three components:

1. planning and assessment processes for infrastructure development to service the MWS (Construction);
2. water availability/certainty of access: water management planning, licensing & allocation (Operation); and
3. the systems and processes developed to meet legal requirements and enable sustainable on-farm use of irrigation water provided by the MWS (the Water Access System).
   

The Strategic Impact Assessment Report and the Supplementary Report (available below) also prepared by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania provide an assessment of how the Program will achieve its objectives and what changes were made to the Program as a result of public consultation:

 

For further information contact:

Primary Industries and Water Division
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania
GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001
Phone: 03 6165 3222
Email: Water.Enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au​

 

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the documents below. It can be downloaded from the Adobe website.

Water Access Program - Midlands Water Scheme, Tasmania Draft Strategic Impact Assessment Report September 2010
Main body of the Report Contents include: Part 1 - Executive summary, Part 2 - Introduction; Part 3 - Project purpose and description; Part 4 - Promoting ecologically sustainable development; Part 5 - Existing environment; Part 6 - Impacts and mitigation; Part 7 - Auditing, reporting and review; Part 8 - Conclusion; Part 9 - Interpretations and Definitions; Part 10 - References; Part 11 - List of Appendices (which appear below).	Download 722 kb, 145 pages
Appendices
Appendix A - Agreement and Terms of Reference for the Midlands Water Scheme Strategic Assessment	Download 1.13 MB, 10 pages
Appendix B - Indicative Maps of the proposed schemes, the supply and distribution pipelines and associated infrastructure	Download 12.73 MB, 26 pages
Appendix C - Prequalification Process for Consultants Preparing Farm Water Access Plans	Download 46 kb, 2 pages
Appendix D - Minimum Standards for Biodiversity Assessments for Farm Water Access Plans	Download 54 kb, 3 pages
Appendix E - Survey Requirements	Download 150 kb, 13 pages
Appendix F - Water Licence Application Process	Download 602 kb, 1 page
Appendix G - Generic Principles for Water Management Planning	Download 199 kb, 20 pages
Appendix H - Risk Assessment Methodology	Download 603 kb, 65 pages
Appendix I - Sites Listed on the Register of the National Estate within the Strategic Assessment Area	Download 160 kb, 17 pages
Appendix J - Landscape Monitoring for the Midlands Water Scheme	Download 78 kb, 9 pages
Appendix K - Dam Assessment Process	Download 382 kb, 1 page
Appendix L - Guidelines for Natural Values Assessment	Download 107 kb, 13 pages
Appendix M - Methods for Modelling Recharge Sensitivity	Download 46 kb, 1 page
Appendix N - Bibliography of Salinity Work Relevant to Midlands Water Scheme	Download 43 kb, 1 page
Appendix O - Distributions of MNES within Midlands Water Scheme	Download 581 kb, 7 pag

Water Access Program - Midlands Water Scheme, Tasmania Supplementary Report
Main body of the Report Contents include: Introduction; The program; Submissions & the consultation process; Key issues; Outcomes for the program; Terms of reference and endorsement criteria; Conclusions, References; and List of appendices (which appear below).	Download 3.27 MB, 44 pages
Appendices
Appendix A - S.146 (1) Agreement and Terms of Reference - Strategic Assessment	Download 1.10 MB, 10 pages
Appendix B - Amended Survey Requirements from IAR (IAR App.E)	Download 131 kb, 13 pages
Appendix C - Amended Risk Assessment Methodology from IAR (IAR App.H)	Download 600 kb, 64pages

Water Access Program - Midlands Water Scheme, Tasmania Program Report
Main body of the Report Contents include: Part 1 - Introduction; Part 2 - Program overview; Part 3 - Program Implementation; Part 4 - Conservation actions; Part 5 - Program evaluation and monitoring; Part 6 - Interpretations and definitions; Part 7 - References; Part 8 - List of appendices (which appear below).	Download 3.33 MB, 75 pages
Appendices
Appendix A - Proposed Extent of the Arthurs Pipeline and Lower South Esk Irrigation Schemes	Download 357 kb, 2 pages
Appendix B - Prequalification Process for Consultants Preparing Farm Water Access Plans	Download 33 kb, 2 pages
Appendix C - Minimum Standards for Biodiversity Assessments for Farm Water Access Plans for the Midlands Water Scheme	Download 41 kb, 2 pages
Appendix D - Indicative Maps: Supply and distribution lines and associated Infrastructure	Download 12.93 MB, 27 pages
Appendix E - Landscape Scale Monitoring Objectives for the Midlands Water Scheme	Download 30 kb, 4 pages