Don Irrigation Scheme gets green light

The Tasmanian Government has approved the Don Irrigation Scheme business case, enabling construction to begin in 2021.

The Don Irrigation Scheme will provide 4,750ML of high-surety, fit-for-purpose summer irrigation water to farmers and deliver jobs, with 135 jobs to be created on farms and associated businesses, on top of the jobs during the construction phase.

The Tasmanian Government is also working with the Federal Government to secure funding to deliver phase two, which will include the South East and Southern Midlands irrigations schemes.

The Tasmanian Government said it knows its AgriFood plan is working, with the state’s agricultural production increasing in value in 2018-19 to $1.64 billion.

Rabobank’s December Rural Confidence Survey noted Tasmanian farmers’ confidence had risen to a 15-month-high resulting from high commodity prices and good seasonal conditions.

This sentiment has continued with the recently released March 2021 survey noting Tasmanian farmers’ investment appetite for productivity improving projects, is the highest in Australia.

When completed, the Tasmanian Government’s Pipeline to Prosperity statewide irrigation plan is expected to provide almost 78,000ML 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.