Feds have "dropped the ball" on irrigation, Fruit Growers say

FRUIT Growers Tasmania CEO Peter Cornish says the Federal government has “dropped the ball” by not funding the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme (GSEIS). 

Mr Cornish this morning met with Lowdina Orchard owners Ian Newnham and son Jake, to discuss the critical need for the GSEIS.

Mr Ian Newnham stated today that without Federal investment for the scheme he will be forced to “pull up trees and downsize staff.” 

"It [the GSEIS] has to happen…the Federal players say they support it, they’ve just got to put their money with their mouth is”, he said.

Many fruit growers in the Coal River Valley, including Mr Newnham, expanded their orchards in anticipation of the GSEIS, planting thousands of new apricot and cherry trees based on promises of reliable water access.

“It was an educated bet, given that every other scheme promised in the past has been funded and there is a long lead time from planting to fruit for us, Mr Newnham said.

“Now, it seems we’ve been left high and dry because the Federal Government didn’t put its money where its mouth was in the last Budget, we were all gobsmacked.”

Mr Cornish said the funding for the GSEIS is a role of Government and critical to the future and growth of the state’s $325 million fruit industry.

“It’s really time to stop any political games, we really want to see a commitment to these sorts of investments.”

“This is slowing things down, the time is now to support this investment,” he said.

Mr Cornish said that the Federal Government has often shared its support for Australia-made and stated “there’s nothing more Australia-made than agriculture.”

“If they want to invest and support Australian made investment and employment, invest in irrigation and that will do the job.”

Mr Cornish said the fruit industry in Tasmania supports the economy by employing up to 10,000 people each year.

“There’s an enormous upside if we keep increasing that growth and expanding that workforce,” he said.

Across the scheme, there are five cherry exporters with over 100 hectares of orchards who export to China, Thailand, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
“There is plenty of potential to increase this and the demand is there, but we just need more water and that’s what this scheme can deliver.”

“The fruits, berries and cherries already being produced from across the GSEIS region are internationally prized and worth a premium price,” Mr Cornish said.

“Take cherries for example, Tasmania is the leading export state for cherries with over half of Australia’s cherry exports grown right here in our state.”

“It’s a really important area and an ideal area in fact because a dry area is ideal for cherries, but we need water and particularly the valley here.”

The urgency of the funding campaign has been intensified by TasFarmers, who put securing federal support as its top priority ahead of the upcoming Federal Election. 

The proposed funding would match $75 million from the State Government and another $75 million from irrigators, totalling a $300 million investment into the scheme.