Building the right team for the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme

Delivering a project the scale of the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme requires more than engineering and infrastructure. It requires the right mix of people, experience and perspectives working together to navigate complexity and deliver outcomes for landowners and communities.

As the project progresses through design and planning, Tasmanian Irrigation is building and evolving the team responsible for delivering what will be Tasmania’s largest irrigation scheme to date. Recent additions to the team reflect the mix of experience and new capability needed to support the next phase of the project.

Ayla Richardson has recently joined the team as Project Officer. Ayla has always loved creating something visible, working to deadlines and applying herself to new challenges, so a career in project management was an obvious pathway. She is about to complete a Diploma in Project Management and is excited about applying her learnings while widening her experience on the project as she works toward her goal of becoming a project manager.

“I love the fast pace of projects, knowing you are there to get something done, watching it being created and seeing that project through to commissioning before you start the next one,” Ayla said.

“You are never doing the same thing and there is so much flexibility in bringing all the elements together to create something amazing.

It’s very exciting to be a part of the team that will deliver Tasmania’s largest irrigation scheme,” she said.

Tasmanian Irrigation has also recently welcomed Tracey Taylor as Project Communication and Engagement Manager, working across several irrigation projects including the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme. Tracey brings experience in stakeholder engagement across Tasmania’s primary industry sectors through a range of roles over many years. Tracey will be focused on supporting engagement and communication as projects move through development and construction, working with project managers and stakeholders to help ensure landowners and communities have clear information as projects progress.

The project team has also recently farewelled two valued contributors who helped guide the project through its early stages. Engineer Lorrienne Lyte joined the project in July 2021 as Project Manager, working as an embedded consultant from Sugden and Gee and bringing extensive experience designing and constructing facilities and pipelines across a huge range of terrain. Liesa Kennedy has recently retired after leading water sales and engagement with more than 400 landowners across the project area and being central to the cordial relationships the project has built with landowners within the region.