Guy Barnett,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Tasmanian Liberal Government recognises the importance of freshwater resources to the State's economy, environment and way of life for many Tasmanians.
The Government released the Tasmanian Rural Water Use Strategy in March this year to support the wise use of water and this was discussed at the inaugural meeting of the Rural Water Roundtable in Hobart today.
Bringing together water managers, users and environmental organisations, the Roundtable will help guide the implementation of our Rural Water Use Strategy, with a focus on delivering water to households, farmers and renewable energy developments, while ensuring long-term river health across our state.
The Roundtable provides an opportunity to explore greater collaboration, coordination and alignment of government, industry and environmental values to improve the sustainable management of Tasmania's water resources.
The Rural Water Roundtable is made up of representatives from peak bodies and organisations with a state-wide focus in this area including – TasWater, Tasmanian Irrigation, the Local Government Association of Tasmania, the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, Hydro Tasmania, DairyTas, the Inland Fisheries Service, NRM North, Landcare Tasmania and the Tasmania Seafood Industry Council.
The Tasmanian Government supports the continuing growth in the value of Tasmania's agriculture sector and also the protection of our water dependent environments for current and future generations.
Our goal is grow the annual farm-gate value of agriculture to $10 billion by 2050 with new investments in water resources, sustainable irrigation and in natural resource management.
To do that we have committed to invest $30.2 million in water resources and sustainable irrigation, including:
- $23.7 million over four years to supersize tranche three of the Pipeline to Prosperity meet increased demand for the Don, Tamar, Sassafras, Northern Midlands and Fingal irrigation schemes;
- $5 million for Tasmanian Irrigation to develop a business case to deliver the South East extension scheme, and;
- $1.5 million over four years to implement in the Rural Water Use Strategy, including river health initiatives.
