The federal Liberal Party has pledged to invest $150 million in the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme (GSEIS) in Tasmania if elected to government.
The scheme, estimated to cost around $300 million, is a joint venture between the Tasmanian Liberal Government, Tasmanian Irrigation and the federal government.
According to the Liberals, the GSEIS will provide water security and reliability to farmers in the state’s south-east and boost the regional economy.
The project is expected to create over 200 jobs during construction and support almost 470 ongoing positions.
The scheme will source water directly from Lake Meadowbank in the Derwent Valley and supply more than 37,000 megalitres of water to an area that typically receives some of the lowest rainfall in Tasmania.
The Liberals say the project will complement previous investments made by the state and federal governments and create an integrated water grid for the region.
