Quarterly Operations Update
By David Skipper, Chief Operating Officer

Tasmanian Irrigation is pleased to report that all irrigation schemes are now open and operating for the summer season.

Every entitlement holder across all 19 operational schemes has received a 100 per cent allocation to their annual entitlement, a strong start that reflects both effective planning and favourable seasonal conditions.

In particular, the Southern Highlands Scheme has benefited from well-timed and generous rainfall throughout October and November. This enabled optimal water harvesting and allowed the scheme to reach full allocation, ensuring growers have the resources they need for a productive season.

Season outlook
The 2025/26 irrigation season has begun with a sense of cautious optimism across Tasmania. Timely and widespread rainfall in late October and early November provided a much-needed boost to the southern areas of Tasmania and the Midlands regions, where dry soils and persistent winds had raised concerns about a difficult spring and summer.

Despite this turnaround, soil moisture profiles remain low in several areas, and challenges are expected as we move into the peak of summer. Continued monitoring and adaptive management will be essential to support irrigators through potentially variable conditions.

In contrast, parts of the north west and north east are entering summer with strong moisture reserves, thanks to consistent rainfall and cooler conditions. These regions are well positioned for a productive season, though localised weather patterns will continue to influence outcomes.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range outlook, Tasmania is likely to experience above-average temperatures this summer, with rainfall expected to be close to average in the east and below average in the west. This mixed forecast reinforces the importance of scheme reliability and responsive operations as we support growers across diverse climatic zones.