Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn said the funding would allow the Tasmanian Irrigation Development Board (IDB) to commence construction on at least seven new irrigation schemes this financial year.

The Budget allocates a further $27 million in 2009-10 on top of the $17 million allocated in 2008-09 from the Water Infrastructure Fund.

Projects to receive State Government funding include:

• Midlands Water Scheme - the IDB will spend $8.4 million in 2009/10 to bring the South Esk component of the scheme to commercial close and enable construction to commence in January 2010.
• Sassafras Wesley Vale - the project involves 62 km of pipeline at a cost of $8.7 million. Construction is expected to start in October 2009 and will be completed in April 2010.
• Ouse Clyde Shannon - the IDB will spend $6.6 million in 2009/10 to enable construction to commence in April 2010.
• Whitemore - the Whitemore scheme involves 34 km of pipeline and the purchase of a dam. It will be completed by June 2010 at a cost of $10.2 million.
• South East Irrigation Scheme - $3 million has been allocated to support an emergency solution for the 2009/10 irrigation season.

The Water Infrastructure Fund will also support further work towards the IDB’s other major schemes including: North-East dams, Meadstone Dam, Headquarters Road, Winnaleah and Upper South Esk.

"I have not allowed current circumstances to divert effort from the sustainable growth of our primary industries, which is the substantial and enduring outcome of our action program," Mr Llewellyn said.

"Existing resources are being prioritised to ensure this State realises the best opportunities out of the irrigation development underway."

Mr Llewellyn said that the $1.2 million allocated to Agricultural Innovation initiative over the coming three years would provide information and support services to farmers to maximise the benefit of water development to their farm enterprise and pursue high value markets.

The $2.9 million Securing Water Advantages project continues to build on Tasmania’s water management planning, natural resource assessment and monitoring and regulatory activities.

"This project will also support the development of environmental planning tools which farmers can use to integrate sustainable water and soil management into their overall property planning," Mr Llewellyn said.