The 24,500ML Tamar Irrigation Scheme has reached a new milestone with the launch of the Preferred Option Design, which includes five pump stations and 240km of pipeline.
The $288 million scheme covers an area of 89,000ha, and will support agricultural diversity and new jobs in the Tamar Valley.
This design centres on harvesting water sustainably from the Trevallyn Dam and delivering this high-surety irrigation water via 240km of pipeline and five pump stations to landowners located on the East Tamar in areas like Lilydale, Hillwood, Pipers River and Pipers Brooks, and on the West Tamar at Rowella, Beaconsfield, Legana and Westwood.
Once operational in 2025-26, it is forecast that the Tamar Irrigation Scheme will create more than 600 direct and indirect jobs.
Additional on-farm investment is already being planned, with some farmers planning to double the area planted to berries and expand operations across the dairy, fruit, vineyard, livestock and cropping sectors in the region.
This project is one of the many Tranche Three irrigation schemes being developed by Tasmanian Irrigation that play a vital role in assisting the Tasmanian Government reach its target of increasing the farm gate value of the state’s agricultural sector to $10 billion a year by 2050.
The Tasmanian Government continues to work with the Federal Government and local farming communities to deliver irrigation projects across the state, rolling out Tranche Three projects including: the Don, Northern Midlands, Sassafras Wesley Vale and the estimated $370 million South East scheme.
The South East scheme will be the biggest irrigation project in Tasmania’s history, expected to deliver more than 40,000ML annually, supporting a further estimated $150 million in on-farm investment, with the potential to create more than 2,000 local jobs.
The Tasmanian Government is also progressing the development of a business case for an estimated $300 million Southern Midlands Irrigation scheme, which will deliver a similar economic benefit to the heart of Tasmania.
More information about the Preferred Option Design for the Tamar Irrigation Scheme, which is expected to inject more than $589 million into Tasmania’s economy over a number of years, and upcoming information sessions, can be found at www.tasmanianirrigation.com.au.
