INTEREST in a 20,000-megalitre irrigation scheme for dairy, beef and vegetable growers in northwest Tasmania is being assessed.
Project manager Paul Ellery said the viability of the scheme, at Circular Head, would be worked out after evaluating the numbers of farmers that had shown interest and the geographical spread of the properties involved.
Expressions of interest closed on Friday.
The scheme will be managed by Tasmanian Irrigation, the state-owned body charged with development of irrigation infrastructure.
Two other 2500-megalitre projects in northwest Tasmania are also in the planning or construction phase.
The Circular Head project aims to take water from the Arthur River, which flows west to the Southern Ocean, and divert it into dams, pipelines or into three north-flowing rivers, the Montagu, Black and Duck rivers that flow into Bass Strait through several farming communities.
The scheme is aimed to drought-proof the area, especially with dairy processors planning new plants in Circular Head.
Tasmanian Irrigation said the scheme would serve farms at Togari, Woolnorth, Montagu, Edith Creek, Roger River, Mella, Forest and Irishtown.
