Significant progress continues on development of the 25,500-megalitre Northern Midlands Irrigation Scheme, with two construction milestones achieved this month.

More than 100 kilometres of pipeline has been installed, and the Poatina Buffer Dam has been completed, ensuring the project remains on track to deliver water for the 2026 summer irrigation season.

Millions of dollars of on and off farm investment will enable Northern Midlands farmers to utilise the highly-reliable irrigation water to boost productivity, diversify into additional high-value enterprises and intensify existing agricultural businesses.

Tasmanian Irrigation Chief Executive Officer Mike Sylvester said this $217.9 million project is a game changer for the region.

“This water will give farmers the confidence to sign crop and livestock contracts, employ more people, engage the next generation in family farms, invest in additional infrastructure and machinery, and build resilience for the future of agriculture in Tasmania,” he said.

“We are incredibly thankful to all farmers who have worked with Tasmanian Irrigation and our principal contractor Hazell Bros so pipes can be laid and ground reinstated, ensuring the project remains on time and on budget.”

As well as more than 100km of pipeline now in the ground, infrastructure has also been installed that allows landowners to connect to the scheme once commissioned. Pipe fittings including air, scour and property outlet valves are being installed progressively behind the dig, lay and backfill crews.

A total of 142km of pipe will be manufactured for the project by Tasmanian manufacturer Vinidex (formerly Zezt) on the State’s north-west coast.

Outlet pipes have been installed and pressure tested, and the earthen embankment on the 650-megalitre Poatina Buffer Dam is now complete. This work follows the recent completion of a new drop structure added to the Poatina tailrace, which enables water to be diverted into the new buffer dam during high-flow periods. This infrastructure enables the scheme to maintain its design flow rate, even when the power station operates below full capacity, guaranteeing reliable water supply for irrigators.

Work is well advanced on the Poatina and Valleyfield pump stations, and has commenced on the Epping Forest pump station. Construction will resume on the Poatina and Valleyfield balance tanks, which will hold 3.45 megalitres and 1.35 megalitres respectively, in February.

Mr Sylvester said Tasmanian Irrigation is delighted to be supporting Tasmanian businesses throughout the construction phase, maximising the economic impact of the Northern Midlands Irrigation Scheme project to our State.

“The Northern Midlands Irrigation Scheme has generated 150 jobs during construction and will create about 450 jobs post completion in the region,” he said. “The project is also expected to deliver $184 million in increased farming revenue and an ongoing $54 million annual boost to the Tasmanian economy.

“There is a direct relationship between Tasmanian Irrigation’s increasing capacity and the farm gate value of the agriculture sector.

“For every 1,000 megalitres of Tasmanian Irrigation water supplied, in the order of 25 direct and indirect jobs are created, there is on-farm investment of between $2 million to $4 million and up to $3 million per annum of benefit is generated for the wider State economy.”

The Northern Midlands Irrigation Scheme project is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($108.98 million) through the National Water Grid Fund, the Tasmanian Government ($72.26 million) and Northern Midlands irrigators through the purchase of water entitlements on the Scheme ($36.72 million).