There are fears that farmers will be sucked into a scheme that will be riddled with the same problems that have faced the Murray-Darling system.  Environment groups have expressed serious concerns over the Tasmanian government’s proposed midlands irrigation scheme, including the possibility of exacerbating salinity. The DPIW has identified significant areas of severe and moderate salinity in the midlands*, and irrigation of high salinity risk areas is well known to worsen those problems.

“If we irrigate areas of identified moderate and severe salinity in the midlands – then the long-term result is going to be a salt-pan for that landscape, and that’s not in the best interests of the midlands, and its certainly not in the best interests of farmers who depend on that landscape for their livelihoods,” said Dr Phill Pullinger, Director of Environment Tasmania, “We are calling for a strategic assessment of long-term agriculture and water sustainability for Tasmania’s midlands, with the involvement of economists, agricultural experts, and salinity and water experts – so that if we are investing public money in the region – then that money is targeted at moving us towards a sustainable long-term future for the region,” he said.

“Why are we rushing ahead with these proposals when there is an extensive study currently being compiled by the CSIRO assessing water yields through to 2030 that will be completed by December,” said Kevin Knowles of the Upper Meander Catchment Land-care Group, “What are the real economic benefits to the agricultural community if we have a salt ridden, unviable midlands landscape?” he continued, “It appears that electoral imperatives rather than the imperative of a long-term sustainable water and agriculture strategy for the Midlands has been driving the recent irrigation announcements,” he concluded.

Environment Tasmania is Tasmania’s conservation council, an umbrella body that represents 25 Tasmanian conservation groups, with collective representation of over 6000 Tasmanians. Upper Meander Catchment Land-care Group is a member of Environment Tasmania, a community environment group dedicated to river and water health.