Guy Barnett,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Morrison Coalition Government and Tasmanian Government continue to work together to deliver nation leading water infrastructure to benefit regional agriculture and create jobs.
$5 million has been committed by the Morrison Government toward the $11 million expansion of the Penna Recycled Water Scheme.
Liberal Senator for Tasmania, Claire Chandler said the funding provided through the National Water Grid Fund would significantly increase the amount of water available for local farmers and irrigators, helping to create jobs and expand farm production to meet the growing demand for Tasmania's premium produce.
"The Morrison Government has invested heavily in water and irrigation projects in Tasmania to support our world-class primary producers, and our support for this project is another example of that," Senator Chandler said.
"This is a great example of the Commonwealth and Tasmanian governments working together to deliver more irrigation water for producers and provide better outcomes for the environment."
Minister Guy Barnett said that once complete the project would reuse 100 per cent of the wastewater from all sites which contribute effluent to Penna, removing the need to discharge from Sorell and Midway Point to Pitt Water, and also increasing TasWater's ability to provide recycled water to the region's primary producers.
''TasWater currently recycles more than 5,000 megalitres, or around 11 per cent of its wastewater, but with the increasing need to conserve our safe drinking water this process is an increasingly valued resource which will assist the State to develop irrigated agriculture and farm gate production.
''TasWater has committed to reducing the amount of treated wastewater released into Pitt Water from Sorell and Midway Point region to zero as this is a Ramsar wetland of international significance,'' Minister Barnett said.
A new pipe along Shark Point Road will take the water to a larger storage which will be able to hold the full supply over winter for use in summer.
Recycled water is wastewater that has been treated to be safe for various agricultural or commercial uses including irrigation of farm land, golf courses, vineyards, horticulture and nurseries, as well as some industrial applications.
The National Water Grid Fund has supported four projects in Tasmania that will deliver increased annual irrigation water by 14,200 megalitres to cover almost 3,000 hectares and create 53 jobs during construction and 70 on-going jobs.
