Dorset EDG Executive Officer

On August 12th, the Tasmanian Government announced funding for the Dorset EDG Executive Officer position for 3 years.

The position has been filled by Kane Symons.

Kane has a background in financial accounting and Local Government administration.

Dorset EDG Current Projects of Interest
November 2008

Dorset EDG has continued to explore the potential for expansion of dairy processing and increased agricultural production in North East Tasmania.

This expansion is contingent upon an increase in stored water for irrigation in the North East of Tasmania.

In early 2007 Dorset EDG and the Tasmanian Government formed a joint steering committee to investigate early feasibility of a proposal to dam 80,000 megalitres of water over a number of sites in the North East.  This committee has commissioned and received a range of studies confirming economic, agronomic, financial and environmental aspects of the proposed water development.

The final report sought by the Steering Committee was a socio-economic assessment by Marsden-Jacob, bringing together much of the work done in previous consultancies. This has been received, and the body of reports has been handed over to the Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn.

Marsden Jacob concluded that the proposed North East irrigation scheme which includes the construction of 7 new dams, shows strong economic returns with estimated net benefits of $81.7 million.  Furthermore they advise, that if the project is developed it would generate significant benefits for the North East region and the broader Tasmanian economy. 

Specifically, Marsden Jacob advise that at full development, with an estimated construction cost of $91 million and a public injection of $30-40 million, the proposed scheme will:

 ·       Lead to the investment of an additional $267 million for farm development and construction of new milk processing plant

·     Generate employment of around 200 direct jobs on dairy farms and 350 indirect jobs including expansion of the processing sector, a total of 550 full-time equivalent jobs

·        Increase the volume of irrigation water by 80,000 ML

·        Increase Tasmania’s milk production by more than 25%

·        Increase farm-gate value of production by $79 million per year

·        Increase Tasmania’s Gross State Product by $125 million per year

The Committee agreed with Marsden Jacob’s view that if the private sector supports the project through up-front purchase of water rights there is a strong case for developing the scheme, and has noted this view to Minister Llewellyn.

In light of significant benefits that a major new irrigation scheme can be shown to bring to the North East, Dorset EDG recommends that such a scheme should be pursued with vigour, and that the Tasmanian Iririgation Development Board (TIDB) should now be directed by the Minister to proceed with more detailed investigations of the scheme as a matter of urgency.

Dorset EDG will shortly be releasing a document which will outline more detailed rationale for the development of a new irrigation scheme in the North-East. This will include description of the approach to the detailed work undertaken so far, the questions addressed in that process and the answers available.

For further information, please contact Dorset EDG Executive Officer Kane Symons on 6352 6544.