Tasmanian Irrigation has welcomed an announcement by the Tasmanian Government that funding has been secured for the next stage of work on the Tamar Irrigation Scheme.

Tasmanian Irrigation CEO Andrew Kneebone said work will now begin on development of a preliminary business case for a scheme that supports a combined agricultural and industrial water supply.

“Despite taking the Tamar scheme to water sales twice, there was insufficient demand from irrigators to justify the capital cost of a standalone agricultural scheme,” Mr Kneebone said.

“Since then, we’ve worked with Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (ReCFIT) to explore options for the Tamar scheme to be developed as a combined agricultural / industrial scheme, supplying water for hydrogen production at Bell Bay as well as to irrigators in the Tamar region.

“This work has demonstrated that the scheme has the potential to achieve those dual objectives.

“The business case is an essential piece of work that will demonstrate whether it’s viable to progress a combined agricultural / industrial scheme,” Mr Kneebone said.

The Tamar Irrigation Scheme would deliver 8,500 ML per season of high reliability irrigation water to Beaconsfield, Legana, Rowella, Hillwood, Pipers Brook and Pipers River. A combined scheme would deliver up to an additional 12,000 ML per annum of water to Bell Bay for industrial use in hydrogen production.

The business case will be developed by Tasmanian Irrigation in collaboration with ReCFIT and funded under the Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub (TGHH) funding.

“The business case will explore issues associated with agricultural and industrial water supply and demonstrate under what conditions there are benefits to Tasmania of progressing a combined irrigation and industrial water scheme,” Mr Kneebone said.

“We will now work with ReCFIT and the Tasmanian Government to finalise the arrangements necessary for work to start on development of the business case.”

It’s expected the business case will be finalised by the end of the current financial year.

More information is available on our website: Tamar Irrigation Scheme - Tasmanian Irrigation

5 December 2024

For more information, contact:

Samantha Meyer, General Manager Stakeholder Relations and Communications

samantha.meyer@tasirrigation.com.au 0438 210 468