Tasmanian Irrigation CEO Mike Sylvester and staff members will be at FarmX 2026 at the Deloraine Showground on Thursday, 20 August.

The event provides an opportunity for irrigators to meet the TI team and have your questions answered about irrigation development and operations across Tasmania.

“The conversations we have with farmers give us valuable insight into their priorities, the pressures they are facing and where access to water could create new opportunities,” Mr Sylvester said.

This year’s FarmX theme, Sustainability & Innovation Across Every Acre, is reflected in Tasmanian Irrigation’s approach to planning, constructing and operating irrigation schemes.

John Wright, Project Manager for the Sassafras Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme Augmentation (SWISA), will be at FarmX to walk visitors through the engineering, environmental planning and day-to-day management involved in delivering one of the State’s major irrigation projects.

The $124.2 million augmentation includes approximately 102 kilometres of pipeline, two pump stations and a balance tank. It will add 9,200 megalitres of high-surety irrigation water to the existing scheme, bringing its total capacity to 14,860 megalitres.

Visitors will be able to learn how infrastructure of this scale is designed, constructed and coordinated across a large project area. John will also explain how the project team works with contractors, landowners and environmental specialists to manage construction impacts and keep the project progressing safely and responsibly.

Construction began in January 2026 and the augmentation is expected to be commissioned in October 2027. Once operational, it will almost triple the amount of highly reliable irrigation water available to farmers in the region, supporting greater productivity and opportunities to diversify into high-value enterprises.

“Sustainable irrigation is about more than delivering water,” Mr Sylvester said.

“It is about combining good infrastructure, sound environmental management and long-term planning so farmers can invest with confidence and adapt as conditions and opportunities change.”

Maintaining connection with farmers is central to Tasmanian Irrigation’s commitment to delivering the water that cultivates productive farms, vibrant communities and a prosperous Tasmania.