The opening of three new irrigation schemes in the past year is integral to the Hodgman Liberal Government’s vision of growing the value of Tasmania’s agricultural sector to $10 billion a year by 2050, and creating jobs across regional Tasmania.
Today, I was pleased to table in Parliament the Tasmanian Irrigation (TI) 2015-16 Annual Report, which highlights a challenging but successful year for sustainable irrigation water development in Tasmania.
2015-16 saw all 10 of the schemes in Tranche 1 in full operation.
And like our farmers and many involved in primary industries, Tasmanian Irrigation also responded to two weather extremes in the past financial year – a prolonged dry period during the irrigation season followed by a record breaking flood event which impacted a number of dams.
As a result of the drought conditions, Tasmanian Irrigation delivered 67,000 mega litres of water, more than double the previous season, with the Upper Ringarooma, Dial Blythe and South East State 3 schemes all successfully completing their first irrigation season.
The five proposed schemes in Tranche 2 are at various stages of the project development process with two now under construction – Southern Highlands and Swan Valley. Water sales for the North Esk Irrigation Scheme exceeded capacity which is a terrific vote of confidence to progress a business case for the project and the Duck and Scottsdale schemes are currently under assessment.
Further irrigation development by way of a potential Tranche 3 program is on the Government’s agenda. Following the release this year of the Future Irrigation Project Final Report, TI is now advancing feasibility studies into another eight potential irrigation projects.
On behalf of the Government, I congratulate management and staff of TI on another successful year in developing job-creating irrigation schemes that are transforming Tasmanian agriculture.
I again thank outgoing inaugural TI directors John Lord (chairman) and Geoff Coffey for their dedication and passion for TI’s nation-leading public-private partnerships and I warmly welcome Samantha Hogg as the new chair.
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