The Bass Strait Islands are currently experiencing drought conditions. These unprecedented conditions have placed stress on the water availability and livestock productivity on the Islands.
Long-term resilience measures to improve water security and drought preparedness to the Bass Strait Islands was introduced on 16 July 2024.
This included a $1.5 million for Bass Strait Islands Water Resilience Program:
- to develop Water Security Strategies to identify improved water storage, reticulation, and other water security measures to meet community needs; and
- the creation of a new King and Flinders Islands Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme to assist livestock producers with 25% up to $15,000 for the purchase and installation of new, or repairs to existing water infrastructure.
Bass Strait Islands Water Security Strategies
NRE Tas has initiated a project team to lead the development of Bass Strait Islands Water Security Strategies. The project will involve the undertaking groundwater assessments on Flinders Island and King Island to better understand the risks, opportunities and capacity for groundwater use as a key source of water for stock and domestic use.
The project will review existing literature and update information with contemporary data and knowledge to better understand the groundwater resource and capacity for use on island.
An overarching water strategy for each Island will be developed that identifies the short, medium and long-term options to meet community needs, both now and into the future.
This will include consultation and engagement on-island with communities and key stakeholders including TasWater and Local Government to better understand water use practices and options to increase water security through investment in measures such as improved storage and/or reticulation.
Project outcomes
- Improved scientific understanding of the groundwater resources and the capacity to provide water supply for stock and domestic use on Flinders Island and King Island.
- The Water Security Strategies that provide short, medium and long term options for providing improved water storage, reticulation and other water security measures to meet community needs both now and in the future (e.g. agricultural sustainability / intensification of water use).
- State and Local Governments, TasWater, farmers, and landowners on the islands have knowledge and understanding of the groundwater systems and can make investment decisions for water security.
The project will engage technical experts in the area of groundwater management and science, and strategic options analysis through a range of project consultancies.
Proposed implementation timetable
The proposed implementation timetable includes two key phases which are expected to be completed by July 2026.
Phase 1: Information and data analysis Detailed project scoping, stakeholder consultation, desktop reviews, community groundwater and surface water surveys, groundwater data analysis and assessment to inform model development.
Phase 2: Community Planning and Strategy Development Stakeholder consultation, capacity building and awareness and development of a Bass Strait Islands Water Security Strategy.
King and Flinders Islands Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme
The Tasmanian Government is offering a rebate to livestock primary producers on King and Flinders Islands to purchase and install new on-farm water infrastructure, or repair and/or replace damaged existing on-farm water infrastructure. These rebates address animal welfare needs and improve resilience to drought. Recipients will be required to demonstrate that they are from the grazing industry, or other eligible primary producers on the Islands will be considered on a case by case basis.
The
King and Flinders Island Farm Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme (KFI Scheme) supports the development of drought resilient farming businesses, and recognises the specific circumstances and extra costs involved for agribusiness on the Bass Strait Islands.
This scheme is now OPEN. For more information and how to apply follow this link.
Contact
Water Enquiries
GPO Box 44,
Hobart, TAS, 7001.
Phone: 1300 368 550
Email:
Water.Enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au