The project is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($62.1 million) the Tasmanian Government ($31 million), and other partners ($31 million). Australian Government funding is provided through the National Water Grid Fund.
Providing additional water to irrigators in the region will support the potential expansion of high value crops such as grapes.
Project overview
The project involves augmentation at the Sassafras Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme to deliver more water to farmers in the productive North West Tasmanian region.
Once complete, the augmentation project will mean delivery of up to an additional 9.2 gigalitres of water, support total delivery of approximately 14.9 GL of water annually into the existing Sassafras-Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme, located on the northwest coast of Tasmania. Irrigators to benefit from the increased delivery of water are located across a number of areas of North Tasmania:
- Sassafras
- Harford
- Thirlstane
- Moriarty
- Wesley Vale
- Northdown
- Pardoe
- East Davenport.
The project design follows a similar alignment to the existing scheme and includes:
- Approximately 102km of new and refurbished pipeline
- 5 pump stations
- replacement of at least 70 property outlets.
Water will be sourced at the Great Bend pump station on the Mersey River and backed up by releases from Parangana Dam. Increased water supply will allow farmers from the region to invest, diversify, expand and value add to their crops.
Construction is expected to be completed by 2026.
Learn more
- Learn more about other irrigation schemes being delivered in Tasmania through the National Water Grid Fund.
- Learn more about the National Water Grid Fund as our primary program for responsible investment in water projects.
- Find out about our Science Program and how it’s helping to inform the work of the National Water Grid Authority.