Confidence in the Northern Midlands pipeline

CONSTRUCTION of the third tranche of the Northern Midlands Irrigation Scheme has begun with hopes the project will transform agriculture in central Tasmania. 

The project aims to provide reliable irrigation water to key agricultural areas including Macquarie, Barton, Conara, Campbell Town, Ross and the Lower Isis Valley. 

Construction started last month following Federal Government approval and work has now commenced at Ashby farm in Ross, where water will be sourced from Poatina.

Approximately 50 farms will benefit from the NMIS, a few of which have not had access to an irrigation scheme before. 

Community members met with the Tasmanian Country this week to discuss the anticipated benefits of the irrigation scheme. 

Will Bennett, owner of Ashby Farm who operates a Merino sheep and irrigated cropping enterprise, said water supply in the region had previously been unreliable. 

“From year to year it was hard to plan ahead,” Mr Bennett said. 

“Some years we wouldn’t know until October if we would have enough water for the summer, so this gives us the surety that there will be water each year,” he said. 

Mr Bennett said the new irrigation scheme would provide extensive positive ripple effects for the entire state. 

Lauren Klomp, the owner of Ricarton Farm, said the new scheme presented significant development opportunities for the local community. 

“It will bring so much development into farms and different companies who will then be able to invest in their communities more,” Ms Klomp said. 

Patrick Taylor of Green Hill Farm manages a mixed operation of Merino ewes, trade cattle and cropping. 

He pointed out that the project will create jobs for more than 50 contractors. 

Mr Taylor said the scheme would instil confidence among farmers as they prepare for the summer months.

“For me, having the surety of water means I can employ someone full time, whereas I couldn’t really justify doing that before,” he said. 

Work on the irrigation project is expected to be completed by October 2026.