Nearly one-third of the Northern Midlands Irrigation Scheme, which is on track to begin pumping water to farmers in October 2026, is now complete.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jane Howlett, said completing the first 50km marked a significant milestone for the project.
“From beginning to end, the Northern Midlands Irrigation Scheme (NMIS) is a truly Tasmanian project,” Minister Howlett said.
“Tasmanian contractor Hazell Bros is installing the 154.8km of pipeline, which has been sourced from Vinidex in the North West.
“The $217.9 million jointly funded project – Australian Government $108.9 million, the Tasmanian Government $72.2 million and Tasmanian irrigators $36.7 million – is expected to create approximately 150 jobs during this construction phase.
“Once the entire project is complete, irrigators in Cressy, Epping Forrest, Campbell Town and Ross will have access to reliable irrigation water, and approximately 450 additional jobs will be created.
“Water security through irrigation is a game changer for our farmers, producers and local economies – and we need more of it.
“The investment made by the Tasmanian Government in this project highlights the State’s ongoing commitment to deliver important water infrastructure projects that provide safe and reliable water for regional communities.”
The Tasmanian Government is delivering on irrigation opportunities, which are part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.
The Tasmanian Government’s AgriVision 2050 target is to increase the annual farmgate value of the Tasmanian agriculture and agri-food sectors to $10 billion by 2050.
Tasmanian Irrigation will deliver the NMIS project. With water available for irrigators in October 2026, Tasmanian Irrigation will manage 20 schemes across the state.
