Water a precious resource amid soil moisture concerns

Tasmanian Irrigation is preparing for what’s likely to be the third year in a row of record irrigation water delivery as many farmers express concern about low soil moisture levels.

Large areas in the south, Midlands and on the east coast still require significant rain to replenish root zone soil moisture. Persistent high winds have impacted surface moisture, leading to increased irrigation demand early in the season.

After two consecutive record years of water delivery – 100,600 megalitres in 2023/24 and 93,610 megalitres in 2024/25 – the value of highly-reliable irrigation water to the ongoing sustainable growth of Tasmania’s agricultural sector is increasingly being recognised.

Tasmanian Irrigation CEO Mike Sylvester said National Water Week from October 20-26 is a great opportunity to reflect on the fact that we should never take a drop of water for granted.

“Water is a precious resource and Tasmanian Irrigation is committed to working with our irrigator communities to sustainably manage the harvesting of water from riverways and dams through to its application on crops and pasture,” he said. 

“The public/private partnership that has delivered 19 irrigation schemes around Tasmania has underpinned hundreds of millions of dollars of on and off-farm investment, as well as job creation and economic growth.

“Reliable irrigation water gives farmers the confidence to diversify into high-value crops, intensify existing operations, invest in water infrastructure, employ more people, offer on-farm opportunities to the next generation, and underpin regional growth and sustainability.”

Water delivery is already underway for nine of Tasmanian Irrigation’s operational irrigation schemes for the 2025/26 season. The remaining 10 schemes are scheduled to open on November 1.

All schemes, with the exception of Southern Highlands, are operating with 100 per cent water allocations to irrigators, reflecting healthy dam levels across the State.

Mr Sylvester said while the high volume of water delivered to farmers last season – the equivalent of more than 37,000 Olympic sized swimming pools – was due to increased capacity as new schemes were commissioned, it also reflected farmers’ increased dependence on Tasmanian Irrigation water.

“Recent research has shown that there is a direct relationship between Tasmanian Irrigation’s growing water delivery capacity and the increasing farm gate value of the State’s agricultural sector.

“For every 1000 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,” he said.

“We see that benefit firsthand in regional communities with new workers and families moving into communities to take up meaningful jobs; shops, schools and the local supply chain thriving; community groups and clubs starting or growing; and opportunities created for young people to stay in their communities.

“This National Water Week is a great time to recognise that the sustainable growth of irrigated agriculture in undeniably good for Tasmania.”

For more information about National Water Week, visit: www.nationalwaterweek.org