Newsletter, February 2012, Issue 124
Water to supercharge farmlands
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Work will begin within weeks on two irrigation schemes in Tasmania’s midlands – worth a total of $100 million – that promise to produce rural jobs for generations by transforming grazing land to intensive agriculture.
The Midlands Water Scheme is designed to supply 38,500 ML (megalitres) of water each year creating an irrigable area of 55,684ha stretching from Kempton to Perth.
The Lower South Esk Irrigation Scheme is designed to supply nearly 5,300 ML annually to an irrigable area of 9,000ha from south of Conara to near Longford.
Most of the water available through the schemes had been sold by late 2011, giving the Government the confidence to announce a go-ahead.
About 350 properties are poised to benefit, supercharging the State’s agricultural growth.
The $88 million Midlands Irrigation Scheme should be completed in two years and the $12 million Lower South Esk Irrigation Scheme will take about 12 months. The work is expected to trigger a swing to intensive agriculture, similar to that following the construction of the Craigbourne Dam in the Coal Valley.
Local landowners bought the majority of water from both midlands schemes, with the remaining 8,481 ML of summer water snapped up for around $10 million by former Tassal Chairman and agribusiness investment banker David Williams. Mr Williams told The Mercury he was looking at dairy and horticulture, including hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts.
“I’m proposing to buy land and use my very good contacts to bring in other investors and partners,” he said. “There is still a lot to be done in high-intensity - from lettuces, onions to carrots and potatoes.”
Mr Williams said similar land in the Murray-Darling Basin would cost from $10,000 to $20,000 a hectare compared with $3,000 a hectare in the midlands.
The Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Bryan Green, said: “Our water resources are the envy of the rest of the country and agribusinesses are watching with great interest the opportunities irrigation is creating around Tasmania.
“We are now almost half way through a list of 13 projects across the State. Three schemes have been built, another is under construction and the schemes in the Midlands are ready to go. It is extremely positive news for Tasmania and marks the start of a new era for agricultural production.”
In north-east Tasmania, the $5 million Headquarters Road Dam near Scottsdale has begun delivering extra water to farmers in the upper catchment of the Great Forester River Valley.
The nearby Winnaleah Irrigation Scheme is expected to be completed this month; a business case is being developed for an Upper Ringarooma scheme; and a preferred option is being indentified for a scheme in the Great Forester and Brid catchments.
For further stories in your February newsletter, please click on the headlines.
$7.4m doubles Petuna’s capacity
A $7.4 million upgrade at Petuna Seafoods’ East Devonport processing plant will create 50 new jobs and enable 15 salmon or trout to be gutted every minute. If you would like to read how superchef and Tasmanian Brand Ambassador, Tetsuya Wakuda, was on hand in January for the official opening of the expanded plant, please click on the headline.
Ponting, Ritchie pass Australia Day milestones
Australia Day brought an AO for cricketer Ricky Ponting; Australian citizenship for musician Brian Ritchie; and recognition for their fellow Tasmanians in many fields. If you would like to read more, please click on the headline.
Wine event delivers ‘essence of the Tasmanian brand’
The organisers of the 8th International Cool Climate Symposium for Viticulture and Oenology in Hobart delivered what wine industry pioneer, Dr Andrew Pirie, described as “a complete and fully rounded event – the essence of the Tasmanian brand”. If you would like to read our report by Food & Wine Writer, Graeme Phillips, please click on the headline.
Theatre celebrates its 175th season
Hobart’s Theatre Royal is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year with a packed and varied line-up. There will be comedy, drama, music, art, dance, children’s shows and the Uni Revue with its annual promise of gratuitous nudity. If you would like to read more, please click on the headline.
China buys into Hydro’s wind business
Hydro Tasmania has resumed construction of the 168mW Musselroe wind farm in north-east Tasmania and has sold 75 per cent of its Woolnorth wind farm to China-based Guohua Energy Investment. If you would like to read more about the State’s fast-changing renewable energy scene, please click on the headline.
Mona puts icing on the party season
The $180 million Museum of Old and New Art – a wildly optimistic experiment this time last year – admitted 387,000 visitors in its first year, surpassing Port Arthur as Tasmania’s top tourist attraction. If you would like to read about Mona and Tasmania’s vibrant festival season, please click on the headline.
Fashion change puts squeeze on riesling
Tasmanian vineyards gathered a total harvest of almost 8,000 tonnes in 2011, according to figures released by Wine Tasmania and the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research. If you would like to read an analysis of the vintage by Food & Wine Writer, Graeme Phillips, please click on the headline.
News-in Brief
Mary’s holiday hits a snag
A snag in Crown Princess Mary’s home visit to Tasmania heads the first News-in-Brief of 2012. We also report on a $15 million upgrade to Blundstone Arena at Bellerive; the end of Beaconfield’s golden years; and much more. If you would like to read the February edition of News-in-Brief, please click on the headline.
Competition 124
The quiz prizes this month will be caps bearing the Tasmanian brand mark.
The December quiz answer: Hobart
This month's question: Can you name the Chinese investor in Woolnorth?
Closing date: 12/03/2012
For further information contact:
Robert Heazlewood
Executive Director
Robert.Heazlewood@brandtasmania.com
Mike Jenkinson
Communications Consultant
editor@brandtasmania.com