Why Tasmania Needs the Meander Dam

Meander Dam Report 2003 Acknowledgement

This document has been produced and published by the Water Resources Division of the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment.

Special acknowledgement must go to the people of the Meander Valley who agreed to be interviewed and photographed for this report.

As well as pointing out the social, economic and environmental benefi ts of the Meander Dam proposal, the publishers trust this report accurately portrays the community’s aspirations for a vibrant and sustainable future. Why Tasmania Needs the Meander Dam

Construction of the Meander Dam will provide jobs, raise economic prospects and narrow the social divide by giving young people a reason to remain part of the Meander Valley community.

If it is built, the Meander Dam will provide:

P More jobs for Tasmania’s young people P Increased agricultural output and exports P A more viable and profitable farming sector P An improved standard of living for a vulnerable rural and regional community P A healthy river environment P Water-based recreational and tourism opportunities

The Meander Dam is supported by a diverse range of stakeholders, including the Government of Tasmania, the Parliamentary Liberal Party, the State’s Labor and Liberal Federal Parliamentarians, Local Government representatives and the State’s peak farming and agricultural bodies.

The Meander Dam is an essential infrastructure project that will lead to a more vibrant, prosperous and environmentally sustainable Tasmania.

It has the potential to make the Meander Valley community strong, proud and confident.

3 A Community at a Critical Point

“The rural sections of the Meander Valley community stand at a critical point where solutions must be sought urgently to protect their economic and social future. “High unemployment and inter-generational unemployment, local occupations and industries in decline, and high concentrations of low-income households and disadvantaged families, make this one of Australia’s most vulnerable communities. “It is urgent that steps be taken to improve Meander Valley’s sustainability outlook. “... Overall, outcomes of the building of the dam would significantly address the characteristics of disadvantage that make Meander Valley a vulnerable community.”

‘Meander Dam: Social and Community Impacts’, Centre for Research and Learning in Regional Australia, University of Tasmania (May 2003)

Narrowing the Social Divide

The Meander Valley is one of the most vulnerable communities in Australia.

The region’s socio-economic disadvantage stems from an ageing and declining population, loss of youth, lower education and training levels, and high unemployment. Studies show that if this disadvantage is not urgently addressed, it is expected to become worse.

The Meander Dam will lead to:

P Economic benefits for the community P Increased value of agricultural enterprises P Lower unemployment rates in rural areas and rural centres of the Meander Valley, especially in the areas around Meander and Deloraine.

More jobs on farms and in the community will underpin a stable and vibrant local economy that is able to retain and attract people to the community, ensure effective use of community infrastructure and provide for improved community health and well-being.

Increased employment is also expected to increase vocational education opportunities, particularly in agricultural and related industries. Consequently, there will be more opportunities for young people to stay in the rural areas of the Meander Valley.

4 Community Fact

The Meander Dam will provide 175 full-time jobs – 86 on farm and 89 off farm – with the potential to reduce total unemployment in the Meander Valley region by more than one-third.

5 Reversing the Decline

Despite the best efforts of successive State and Federal Governments, the Meander Valley has failed to match the economic progress of other parts of the country.

In an analysis by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, the Meander Valley ranked 13th among the most vulnerable large regional cities or towns in Australia, and the most vulnerable in Tasmania.

Unfortunately, the Meander Valley is recognised nationally for its:

Economic disadvantages – unemployment, under-employment and unstable employment

Poor educational outcomes – lower than average levels of literacy, retention rates and school participation

At-risk youth – higher levels of problematic behaviour among young people.

In low socio-economic areas, children and families have fewer opportunities to build a fulfilling and meaningful life*.

* Source: Bridging the Gap Between the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have Nots’, National Education and Employment Forum, published by The World Education Fellowship Australian Council, June 2002.

Meander Valley Snapshot The rural communities in the Meander Valley are in a state of decline, as evidenced by:

• General population decline of 6.2% from the rural centres of the Meander Valley between 1996 and 2001, with an overall population fall of 1.8% for the entire municipality.

• Signifi cant drop in young people (under 25 years) as a proportion of the population, from 39.8% to 36.6%, between 1996 and 2001.

• Lower education and training levels than surrounding regions.

• Higher unemployment (10.1%) than surrounding regions, with a relatively high proportion of labourers and related workers in rural areas, confi rming the importance of agriculture as an industry in the rural areas of the municipality. Source: 2001 Census

6 Dam Fact The Meander Dam will provide 24,000 megalitres (ML) of irrigation water, from a total storage capacity of 43,000 ML, for approximately 9,000 hectares of potentially highly productive farmland. This water will be available at 98% reliability, with additional quantities available at lower reliability.

7 Using our Water Wisely

The Water Development Plan for Tasmania released by the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment in August 2001 recognises the need for ecologically sustainable water development in the State.

The Plan identifies strategic initiatives to manage and develop water. These initiatives cover the range from short-term to long-term timeframes and include specific water development projects, water use efficiency, improved environmental outcomes and streamlined administrative processes for water management.

The Plan identifies the following key issues for Tasmania’s water:

P The need for a strategic approach to water development that integrates the needs of all users, the environment and the State’s social and economic goals

P Supplying clean water for people to use in their homes P Ensuring water is reused where possible P Making sure streams, waterways, aquifers and wetlands are properly looked after

P Continuing to make water the major source of the State’s electricity needs

P Managing the State’s water resources so farming and other water- dependent industries can obtain reliable supplies to increase production and create more jobs

P Making better use of water for recreation and tourism.

The Plan identifies key opportunities for development of the State’s water resources to meet Tasmania’s economic and social objectives in a sustainable manner, and ensures we look after a precious and limited natural resource for future generations.

The Meander Dam was identified as a priority project in the Plan due to its ability to deliver a major stimulus to agricultural growth and job creation in the Meander Valley, which has been identified as a vulnerable regional community.

An Abundant & Well-Managed Resource • The ability to sustainably harness high winter streamfl ows for use at other times of the year is well demonstrated in Tasmania. The State has a total dam storage capacity of over 24 million megalitres, more than 30% of the total storage capacity in Australia. • More than half of the annual farm gate value of agriculture in Tasmania comes from irrigated production, far higher than in any other State and well ahead of the national average of 35%. • Tasmania leads the nation in the return per unit of irrigation water. Tasmania’s fi gure of nearly $1,700 per megalitre is up to six times higher than other states and nearly three times the national average.

8 Water Fact 51% of the farm gate value of Tasmanian agriculture is produced from only 3.5% of the land area used for agriculture (ie, the irrigated area).

9 Jobs for a Vulnerable Community

The Meander Dam will provide 175 full-time jobs. It has the potential to reduce the region’s total unemployment by more than one-third.

Many of these jobs will be taken up by young people, easing a desperate shortage of youth employment opportunities in the Meander Valley.

The income generated by the dam will have a trickle-down effect throughout the region, increasing the chances of the Meander Valley remaining a strong and vibrant regional community.

Without the dam, the requirement to provide the full environmental water requirement for the Meander River will result in a decrease in agricultural production and jobs, and have a significant impact on the community.

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the Meander Valley has a relatively high proportion of farm labourers and related workers in rural areas, confirming the importance of agriculture as a vital industry for the region.

The farm management workforce is significantly older than the rest of the working population, and there is a need for a stimulus to attract younger farmers.

Triple-Bottom-Line Benefits: Achieving a Balance Between Social, Economic & Environmental Outcomes

Finding the Right Mix A Vision for Regional Australia

“A healthy concern for the environment is no “A thriving Australia needs growing and longer something at the periphery ... it is now vibrant regions. The Federal Government is something that everybody is interested in. And committed to ensuring a strong and resilient what we have tried to do in the seven or more regional Australia now and in the future years we’ve been in Government, we have – supporting community ideas, leadership tried to simultaneously pursue the goal of a and development. We are committed to a better environment but not sacrifice economic regional Australia recognised by us all for its growth in the course of achieving that goal.” contribution to our great nation.”

The Honourable John Howard, MP ‘Stronger Regions, A Stronger Australia’ Prime Minister The Honourable John Anderson, MP Address to business and community leaders, Deputy Prime Minister, Gladstone, Queensland, 12 June 2003 Minister for Transport and Regional Services

10 Water Fact Tasmania’s Water Development Plan recognises the significant potential for harnessing winter water flows in a sustainable manner. With less than 1% of the total Australian land area, Tasmania has 12% of the national total surface water run-off, some 45 million megalitres.

11 Boosting Agricultural Output

The Meander Dam will enhance the profitability, competitiveness and sustainability of Tasmania’s agriculture industry.

At a time when farmers in the rest of the country are suffering from the effects of drought and uncertain future irrigation water supplies, the Meander Dam will bring certainty to the farming communities of the Meander Valley.

Nationally, the net value of farm production is expected to fall by 80% to around $2.15 billion in 2002-03 due to widespread drought, with a severe drop in farm income and an ever greater fall in business profits as many farms have reduced livestock numbers, diminishing their capacity to generate cash flow in subsequent periods. (Source: Australian Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry At a Glance 2003, published by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.)

In contrast, the Meander Dam will secure a much-needed water supply to an agricultural area of around 9,180 hectares principally used for high-value cropping including vegetables, poppies and seed crops (62% of the total area), dairying (31%) and beef and sheep pasture (7%). Over time, it is likely that water use will move away from lower-value enterprises to higher-value enterprises, a pattern seen in other parts of the State. (See ‘Turning Water Into Wine’, page 14)

Major Agricultural Benefits

P Maintaining current production – Irrigation water supplies for local farmers from the Meander River are currently of low reliability with severe water restrictions imposed during four of the last six summers. Without the Meander Dam, the availability of water will be further reduced because of additional environmental flow requirements necessary for the Meander River, resulting in a significant reduction in agricultural output estimated to be $10.5 million.

P Additional Irrigation Benefit – A highly reliable and increased water supply will lead to an expansion of irrigated agriculture throughout the Meander Valley, especially higher-value agricultural pursuits such as cropping and irrigated dairying, resulting in a net benefit of $37.7 million.

P Flood Mitigation – The Meander Dam will reduce the number and severity of floods along the Meander River, with a range of benefits: - Reduction in livestock, pasture and crop losses - Reduction in damage to farm infrastructure such as fencing - Reduction in damage to houses - Reduction in damage to municipal infrastructure, including roads, bridges and footpaths, which in turn diminishes the community’s production capacity.

P Water Quality – Additional water flows in the Meander River during summer will result in improved water quality for towns such as Deloraine, Exton and Westbury, for domestic and livestock use along the Meander River, and for recreational activities.

12 Sustainable Fact Every winter, Tasmanian catchments in agricultural areas yield more than 10 million megalitres of uncaptured flows. Only 2% of these flows needs to be harvested to achieve the State’s primary production growth targets.

13 Case Study: Turning Water Into Wine

Less than 20 years ago, the Coal River Valley, on the outskirts of Hobart, was a low-value farming community. Revenue came mainly from dryland cereal crops and grazing, offering a marginal return on investment for battling farmers.

These days, however, the area is a flagship of Tasmania’s booming wine industry and the cornerstone of a revitalised stone-fruit sector, with local cherries and apricots in high demand across Asia Pacific.

In fact, irrigators have a choice of around 30 crops with a proven record of success in the region.

The catalyst for this remarkable turnaround has been the Craigbourne Dam, commissioned in 1986 to ensure a stable water supply to the district.

Since then, more than $100 million has been pumped into the area by a growing number of market-driven farmers, backed by national and international investors, who know it makes sense to base operations alongside a guaranteed water supply.

“The Coal River Valley prior to the Craigbourne Dam was a dryland farming area, with most farms too small to be economically viable,” says Frank Casimaty, President, Coal River Products Association.

“Now, hundreds of full and part-time jobs have been created, and the Coal River Valley has a vibrant and secure future. Similarly, the Meander Dam will secure the future of the Meander Valley through a greater surety of water supply.”

14 Coal River Valley Fact The Craigbourne Dam has helped to stimulate more than $100 million in development in the south-east of Tasmania since 1986. The region is home to more than 30 vineyards, the highest concentration of vineyards in Tasmania.

15 Ecologically Sustainable Development

The Meander Dam proposal has been developed in accordance with the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development (NSESD), which is incorporated in the Commonwealth Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The dam aims to meet the socio-economic needs of the Meander Valley and Tasmania today, while conserving ecosystem values for the benefit of future generations. As such, it meets the Commonwealth Government’s definition of ecologically sustainable development: “Using, conserving and enhancing the community’s resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased.”

Furthermore, the natural resources harnessed for the project will be maintained – and even improved – thanks to improved environmental flows for the Meander River.

Alternative sites, designs and schemes have been considered and evaluated in terms of potential environmental and social impacts, and economic considerations, as part of the Meander Dam proposal.

The ‘no-development’ option has also been evaluated, but this has major disadvantages as the Meander River can not currently deliver a sufficient volume and surety of water supply as demonstrated by the water restrictions imposed during four of the last six summers.

A detailed investigation of on-farm dams as an alternative to the Meander Dam found only a very small proportion of the irrigation demand could be supplied from this source. The investigation also identified potentially significant cumulative impacts of a number of on-farm dams and the difficulty of managing environmental flow releases in this situation.

The Meander Dam proposal will ensure that the ecological health and diversity of the area is maintained and enhanced where possible.

The allocation of the full environmental water requirements from the dam is expected to significantly improve the health of the Meander River in the short term. To achieve the environmental water requirement without the dam would require the removal of at least the temporary water allocations of 4,000 ML. This will result in a significant decline in the socio-economic wellbeing of the Meander Valley community, especially the farming sector.

It is precisely this sector that needs to be maintained in a robust condition to ensure the ongoing sustainability of land, water and vegetation management through appropriate stewardship of privately owned land in the region. It is only by ensuring that the present generation of natural resource managers has the financial capacity to sustainably nurture the resources that the availability of the resources for use by future generations can be assured. If the Meander Dam does not go ahead, farm viability will continue to decline along with the health of the Meander River ecosystems and surrounding land, and the capacity of the farming community to sustainably manage natural resources for future generations will correspondingly decrease.

Land capability investigations of the proposed irrigation area identified 28,000 hectares of potentially irrigable land. Surface water salinity, bore water tests, salinity risk assessment and an electro-magnetic survey were utilised, resulting in the conclusion that the risk of salinity is low. However, regular monitoring of surface and soil water and water table depth will be encouraged.

16 Agricultural Fact The Meander Dam will enable the expansion of cropping and dairying in the Meander Valley by providing surety of water supply to an agricultural region which has seen restrictions on water takes during four of the last six irrigation seasons.

17 Protection for Epacris aff. exserta (Union Bridge)

The Meander Dam proposal is regarded as a ‘controlled action’ by Environment Australia under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) due, in part, to the potential impact of the project on the plant species, Epacris aff. exserta (Union Bridge).

The taxon is listed as ‘vulnerable’ under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (TSPA) and is protected under the EPBC Act, where it is listed as ‘endangered’.

The total number of Epacris aff. exserta (Union Bridge) plants is estimated at over 7,000. 17% of known habitat is in the Meander River; the remainder is in the neighbouring Mersey catchment unimpacted by the Meander Dam. 56% of the habitat in the Mersey catchment is formally reserved.

There are two significant populations of Epacris aff. exserta (Union Bridge) on the Meander River, one in the gorge immediately below the proposed Meander Dam and one approximately 16 kilometres downstream of the dam.

Construction of the Meander Dam will have an impact on the species through the loss of approximately 100 plants within the dam inundation area, and an indirect impact on the population immediately below the dam over an extended but unknown period, possibly 50-300 years. This loss would not change the conservation status of the taxon in either the EPBC Act or TSPA.

To minimise the impact on this plant species, the Meander Dam proposal includes extensive mitigation measures and monitoring commitments, contained in the Downstream Flora Management Plan and the Epacris Management Plan.

These strategies, formulated by expert flora consultants, will result in effective management regimes for at least 83% of the core Epacris aff. exserta (Union Bridge) habitat, most of which is on the banks of the Mersey River, in north-west Tasmania, and its tributary Lobster Rivulet. These waterways contain six of the eight significant populations of the species, including the largest known population, located in Alum Cliffs State Reserve.

In the short to medium term, the Epacris aff. exserta (Union Bridge) is threatened more by competition from weeds, physical impacts from human and animal activities, and the disease organism Phytophthora cinnamomi than from the Meander Dam proposal. The management plans are primarily aimed at addressing these short to medium-term threats so that decisions about the longer-term maintenance of the populations can be made if, and when, the monitoring program demonstrates any significant impact from the dam.

The monitoring program put in place thanks to the Meander Dam proposal has a significant benefit over the ‘no-development’ scenario by ensuring that formal regular observations of the populations take place. This means that any impacts of key threatening processes, especially the establishment of the disease Phytophthora, will be identified earlier than they otherwise would be, enabling timely protective action to be taken.

Furthermore, genetic material from the at-risk Epacris aff. exserta (Union Bridge) population on the Meander River will also be preserved in the long term by ex situ propagation and maintenance under contract by a specialist.

18 Epacris Fact

The vast majority – 83% – of all known Epacris aff. exserta (Union Bridge) habitat is not on the Meander River. It is located in the Mersey River catchment, in north- west Tasmania.

19 Protection for the Spotted-tailed Quoll

The site of the proposed Meander Dam lies within the core distribution zone for the spotted-tailed quoll Dasyurus maculatus. The inundation area of 362 hectares was partially cleared in the late 1980s to make way for a dam that was never built. Now, the majority of land is regenerating cleared land, with 22% improved pasture that is not considered suitable as native fauna habitat.

The inundation area includes approximately 80 hectares of riparian vegetation and cleared land identified as providing prime foraging habitat supporting a minimum of seven resident spotted-tailed quolls. The Tasmanian population is estimated at between 3,000 and 4,000 animals.

Some experts believe the site forms an integral part of a corridor of remnant native vegetation linking eastern Tasmania and the Great Western Tiers that may play an important role in allowing gene flow and dispersion between D. maculatus populations.

To ensure the Meander Dam leads to no net loss of ecological values of quoll habitat, a requirement of the Fauna Habitat Management Plan as part of the Environment Protection Notice, extensive mitigation strategies have been formulated, including:

1) Creation of new habitat on 137 hectares of Rivers and Water Supply Commission land to the west and north of the dam site to provide suitable habitat for movement of D. maculatus.

2) A minimum 100-metre-wide wildlife corridor set aside as a Protection Zone in State Forest on the southern and eastern sides of the proposed dam, comprising a total area of 152 hectares.

3) An additional 115 hectares of potential quoll foraging and denning habitat in couped State Forest in the vicinity of the proposed dam site, to be established as a Special Management Zone with a moratorium on any further silvicultural practices pending outcomes of further studies on quoll habitat requirements.

The total area of D. maculatus habitat proposed to be set aside primarily for D. maculatus mitigation is 404 hectares. Of this, 24 hectares is already fully reserved, leaving 380 hectares to be additionally protected if the dam proceeds. The mitigation strategies on State Forest will be formalised in the Public Authority Management Agreement between Forestry Tasmania and the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, under the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.

Overall, the Fauna Habitat Management Plan provides for significant gains in quoll habitat over the present situation. Should the project not proceed, the quality of habitat at the dam site will decline due to further invasion by weeds and likely conversion to productive use through farming or plantation forestry.

The ‘no-development’ scenario is also disadvantaged by a lack of any formal agreements for the protection of quoll habitat and corridors on State Forest surrounding the site and the absence of any rehabilitation with native vegetation of farmland adjacent to the dam site. In contrast, the Fauna Habitat Management Plan developed based on expert advice as part of the Meander Dam proposal provides for formal management of the surrounding quoll habitat – existing and potential – to ensure that habitat values are maintained.

20 Quoll Fact The Meander Dam inundation area includes 80 hectares of quoll habitat which is unprotected at present. Through Meander Dam agreements, a total of 380 hectares around the site will be managed to provide habitat and corridors for this species.

21 The Story So Far

In 2001, the Meander Dam was identified as a priority project of the Water Development Plan for Tasmania due to its ability to deliver significant agricultural growth and job creation for the State.

Between October 2001 and February 2002, the environmental, engineering, economic and agricultural feasibility of the Meander Dam proposal was assessed in independent, comprehensive studies by Hydro Tasmania Consulting. These feasibility studies formed the basis of the Meander Dam Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan (DPEMP), which supported the application for statutory approvals for the project.

The approval process was governed by the Water Management Act 1999 and the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994, and the proposal was assessed by two independent, expertise-based bodies: the Board of Environmental Management and Pollution Control, and the Assessment Committee for Dam Construction. The assessment covered all relevant matters including environmental impacts and proposed mitigation strategies, dam safety, project economics and water management issues. After a DPEMP Supplementary Report was completed in July 2002, a dam permit and Environment Protection Notice (EPN) were issued in October 2002 giving statutory approval for the Meander Dam project at State level. The permit and EPN include a total of 45 conditions to ensure safe and environmentally sustainable construction and operation of the dam.

Two appeals against the statutory approvals were subsequently received by the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal and in January 2003, a three-person tribunal panel upheld the appeals, thereby overturning all previous approvals. The decision was based on the tribunal’s opinion that the project would result in environmental harm to two threatened species. The tribunal felt that it was unable to determine which of two economic analyses of the project presented to it was more accurate, and hence could not fully consider whether the environmental impacts outweighed the potential social and economic benefits.

The Government of Tasmania then decided to act in the public interest, based on many years of demonstrable strong community support for the project and the outcome of deliberations by the expert statutory bodies. In April 2003, the Government introduced the Meander Dam Project Bill into Parliament. The bill was passed by the House of Assembly, with the unanimous support of the Liberal Opposition, and by the Legislative Council, with only one member opposed.

The Meander Dam Project Act 2003 reinstates the previous dam permit and EPN, providing State-level approval for construction of the dam to proceed. The project now rests with the Commonwealth Environment Minister, who must base his decision under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 on a balanced consideration of the overall environmental, social and economic effects.

22 Proposal Fact The Meander Dam proposal has been assessed by two independent, expertise-based bodies: the Board of Environmental Management and Pollution Control, and the Assessment Committee for Dam Construction. The procedures followed by these bodies were the most rigorous for any dam in Tasmania’s history.

Meander Dam inundation area

23 Adding up the Economic Benefits

The Meander Dam proposal has been scrutinised by some of the most eminent economic and agricultural consultants in the country. These independent assessments agree that the project is economically and financially viable.

The Draft Economic Evaluation that was undertaken by Davey & Maynard Agricultural Consulting in December 2002 contained a cost-benefit analysis of the dam proposal. This work was based on an earlier report by the same firm, which assessed agricultural issues and financial viability.

After the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal (RMPAT) decision, further work was commissioned from Marsden Jacob Associates (MJA), a nationally recognised firm with extensive experience in the analysis of water infrastructure projects across Australia. Specifically, MJA was asked to undertake an independent assessment of the economic documents submitted as proofs of evidence to the RMPAT in December 2002 and provide an independent economic and financial evaluation of the proposal.

MJA found that under a likely scenario, the net present value is $27 million at a 6% discount rate with an internal rate of return of 11.9%.

Importantly, analysis found that there will be a total of 175 full-time jobs generated by the Meander Dam proposal, including 86 on farm and 89 off farm.

Nationally respected economics consulting firm, ACIL Tasman, was subsequently engaged by Environment Australia to review the MJA report. ACIL Tasman concluded that “the Meander Dam Project is comfortably viable from an economic viewpoint”.

Unlike some irrigation developments, which start from dryland farming, many of the properties to be supplied by the Meander Dam already have significant irrigation infrastructure and expertise in irrigated agriculture. Moreover, the Meander Valley has a long history of cropping and dairying with many properties currently holding contracts with processing companies. These aspects act to mitigate the risks normally associated with greenfield irrigation developments reliant on generational change before significant adoption of irrigated agriculture occurs.

This positive view of the future of irrigated agriculture in the Meander Valley is supported by ACIL Tasman, which stated that a positive view of the earnings possible from additional irrigation in the Meander Valley seemed warranted.

The Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group Ltd launched an industry growth survey in July 2003 that identified growth of 28% in agricultural products by 2008. This growth is largely dependent on water development projects achieving increases in access to secure water resources.

Based on their analysis of the proposed financing arrangements, MJA concluded there should be no concerns over the financial viability of a private developer proceeding with the Meander Dam.

24 Meander Dam Job Creation by Industry Sector

Other - 4% Construction & Utilities - 9%

Other Manufacturing - 7%

Food Processing - 20%

Services - 11% Agriculture - 49%

Economic Fact

The Meander Dam proposal is comfortably viable from an economic viewpoint. It has been independently scrutinised by three expert consulting firms who agree that it will provide net economic benefits to Australia.

25 A Community Speaks

“The Meander Dam will provide a win-win for agriculture and the environment. This sort of imaginative and balanced outcome is what farmers around Australia are looking for as our natural resources become more limited.” Peter Corish, President, National Farmers Federation

“Approval for the Meander Dam will represent a tremendous vote of confidence in Tasmanian agriculture by the Commonwealth Government, and massively boost the confidence of Tasmanian farmers in their own futures.” Brendon Thompson, President Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association

“The Meander Dam is a vital project for the future prosperity of the Meander Valley. [It] ... is the only practical solution that can introduce a new environmental-flow regime to maintain the long-term health of the catchment and at the same time enable the productivity of our agricultural sector to grow by taking advantage of excess flows that occur in winter.” Cr Mark Shelton, Mayor, Meander Valley Council

“Water from the Meander Dam will allow me to increase the production of high-quality vegetables from my farm and offer guarantees of supply to customers. [This] will increase employment opportunities on my farm and add to the vitality of the Meander Valley area.” Don Badcock, farmer, Hagley, Northern Tasmania

“Water access is critical to summer and autumn milk production levels ...[which accounts for] around 50% of our milk supply. During this time, pasture growth can improve by 75% with irrigation. Meander Dam will play a key role in the long-term viability of Bonlac operations in Tasmania.” Robin Johnson, Southern Region Operations Manager, Bonlac

Open Letter

“The Meander Dam is the flagship project of the Water Development Plan for Tasmania. To maximise growth and development opportunities in all sectors of agriculture, and to sustain vibrant rural and regional communities, we need to attract investment and use our natural resources in a sustainable way to generate economic wealth and jobs for Tasmanians.

“The Meander Dam project is a key part of our strategy to enhance sustainable irrigation development and deliver triple bottom line outcomes. It is particularly pleasing that the project enjoys the strong public support of Tasmania’s Parliamentary representatives of both major political parties at State and national level.”

Bryan Green, MHA Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment Government of Tasmania

26 ‘Farmer and Dog’, by Susan Haywood, sculpture in aluminium, Emu Bay Road, Deloraine.

All photography by Jonathan Jones / Wise Guise, except page 15 by Alastair Bett / F8 Photography and page 23, top left, Department of Primary Industries, Water & Environment. Printed by Printing Authority of Tasmania, Salamanca Place, Hobart. Produced & published by the Water Resources Division of the Department of Primary Industries, Water & Environment. © 2003 Meander Dam Report 2003