Irrigation vital to build future

Tasmania’s farmers are working hard to grow the agricultural sector to $10 billion in farm gate value by 2025. According to the latest Tasmanian Agri-Food Scorecard, the industry remains ahead of projected forecasts and is on track to meet this ambitious goal.

This growth and success is being driven by investments in irrigation schemes designed to mitigate future environmental stress. These schemes ensure a reliable water supply while safeguarding environmental and other essential needs.

Another key success factor is that these investments allow producers to transform low-value dryland farming into high-value irrigated enterprises. This shift not only increases employment opportunities, but also stimulates significant on-farm capital investment, fostering new entrepreneurial ventures for service providers and farm owners.

The viability of irrigation schemes relies on the current three-way funding model, where the federal government contributes 50%, with the remaining costs shared between irrigators and the state government.

This structure has been critical in securing producer participation and ensuring the success of these schemes. TasFarmers maintains that before the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme, the existing funding model was unsustainable.

Both sides of politics need to recognise Tasmania’s crucial role in national food security and its potential as a key food-producing region for the country. To move the industry forward, governments must not walk back on their current contribution levels. 

The next Australian government will need to do everything in its power to maximise Tasmania's output as a result of climate change. 
As climate change intensifies, irrigated land will become increasingly productive, ensuring food security at a time when traditional agricultural regions on the eastern seaboard face mounting pressures.

On a federal level, Tasmania must be recognised as the next major land mass without complete and widespread irrigation access. Yet, its climate is ideally suited for high-value viticultural crops, as seen in the Tamar Valley wine region, which is attracting significant investment in infrastructure, generating seasonal harvest jobs and long-term employment for local workforces.

A business case is currently underway for the Tamar Irrigation Scheme, which proposes a dual-use model for both agriculture and industry. The next step is for governments to launch educational campaigns to inform potential buyers and producers about the benefits of participation and then build the scheme.

The Tamar Irrigation Scheme presents a crucial opportunity for the next federal government to enhance the sector’s sustainability and profitability. Without a firm commitment to the industry, long-term certainty cannot be guaranteed and investment opportunities will be missed.