Guy Barnett, Minister for Primary Industries and Water

Benefits of Pipeline to Prosperity will flow to farmers and the community

Today’s announcement by the Morrison Liberal Government of $100 million for Tranche 3 Pipeline to Prosperity projects is a vote of confidence in the bright future of Tasmanian agriculture.

Water is liquid gold and irrigation is transforming Tasmanian agriculture, creating jobs and expanding farm production to meet the growing demand for Tasmania’s premium produce.

Pipeline to Prosperity will be the third tranche of irrigation schemes developed in Tasmania by State and Federal Governments in partnership with farmers. The Tasmanian Government has already committed $70 million to Tranche 3 of Pipeline to Prosperity.

The Federal Government commitment will enable us to proceed with five irrigation projects, whilst the planning for other proposed schemes continues.

Access to this irrigation water will enable farmers to consider new high-value enterprises such as wine grapes, dairy, cropping, horticulture, value add existing enterprises and livestock finishing.

Irrigation development is a key plank of the Hodgman Liberal Government’s AgriFood Plan and to meet our target to grow the farm gate value of our agricultural sector to $10 billion per annum by 2050.

When fully implemented, Pipeline to Prosperity will deliver 10 proposed irrigation schemes which will provide an additional 78,000 megalitres of water creating thousands of jobs and return an estimated $114 million each year to the agriculture sector, and our economy more broadly.

Contact: Ben Davidson

Phone: 0418 301 051