The Dial Blythe Irrigation Scheme commenced operations during the 2015-16 irrigation season.
The district services pasture and cropping land around the townships of South Riana, Riana, Penguin, West Pine, Cuprona and Howth. Production in the area includes potatoes, vegetables, poppies, pyrethrum, berries and pasture for livestock finishing and dairy production.
The scheme has the capacity to supply 2,855 ML of water over a 120-day delivery period on which the summer irrigation season is based. Depending on rainfall, additional water may be able to be supplied by the scheme outside the irrigation season.
Water supplied in the district is sourced from inflows into the 4,000 ML South Riana Dam and supplemented by water pumped from the Blythe River. The dam is located on an unnamed tributary of the Blythe River near South Riana. The dam is filled during the winter months and can be topped up during summer. Delivery throughout the district is via 43.6 kms of pipeline, with water being pressurised at the South Riana Dam Pump Station
In the Dial Blythe Irrigation Scheme, a Farm Water Access Plan is required to cover all land that Tasmanian Irrigation water is applied and to all dams that are used to store Tasmanian Irrigation water. Click here for information on Farm Water Access Plans