Tasmanian Irrigation's flagship project, the $104 million Midlands Water Scheme, tonight won the State's most prestigious civil engineering infrastructure award.

At a gala event at Hobart's Wrest Point Casino, Tasmanian Irrigation's Acting Chief Executive Greg Stanford accepted a Category Five Earth Award on behalf of all involved in the project, including contractors Hazell Bros and Fulton Hogan.

The awards recognise excellence and innovation in the civil construction industry with a focus on construction technique, environmental management and project management.

Mr Stanford said TI was entered in the highest category for projects that cost more than $75 million to construct.

"The Midlands Water Scheme is the most significant irrigation development undertaken in Tasmania's history and after waiting 140 years, farmers in the dry midlands of the State will finally have high surety water," he said.

"To win this award we must congratulate the midlands irrigators who contributed $25 million in private investment capital towards the project to realise this dream.

"I would also like to recognise the engineering excellence that was needed to construct this project that will now last a century and positively impact future farming generations in Tasmania.

We must also recognise the Federal and State Governments that contributed $55 million and $12 million respectively to the project."

Mr Stanford said it was gratifying to see the vision realised with water starting to flow into the dry Southern Midlands of Tasmania from 1 August, 2014 with the official irrigation season opening on 1 October.

The Midlands Water Scheme is also one of the largest infrastructure projects undertaken in Tasmania in 10 years with its pipeline stretching 137 km from Arthurs Lake to Jericho.

It will deliver up to 38,500 mega litres of water a year to 55,484 hectares of irrigable land and it's a project that literally changes the face of Tasmanian farming for the better.

Contact Public Affairs Manager

Shelley Spencer
0407554800