ACN:133 148 384    ABN: 9572 2799 075

The Tasmanian Irrigation Development Board (TIDB) was established as a registered company by the Tasmanian Government in September 2008 to progress a suite of regionally significant irrigation schemes in many parts of Tasmania.

It is an expertise-based Board well qualified and experienced in major infrastructure projects, governance, negotiation and finance. The TIDB progresses the schemes from feasibility assessment through to the construction and operational stages.

The work of the TIDB evolved from the Tasmanian Water Development Plan being pursued by the State Government. Amongst other matters, the initial phases of the Water Development Plan focussed on developing a number of irrigation proposals to the "investment ready" stage. A recognition that regionally significant irrigation development is, in most cases, beyond the resources of farmers alone, resulted in the establishment of the Tasmanian Irrigation Development Board to realise the schemes through public-private partnerships.

The capital cost of these schemes is shared between the community and the private sector. A total of $220m has been earmarked by the Tasmanian and Australian Governments to progress the water developments. The public funding contribution recognises that the regional communities in which the schemes are located will gain a general socio-economic advantage from increased activity and employment over  time. Private capital contributions are made through the purchase of tradeable water entitlements to a particular scheme by the beneficiaries of that scheme. Operating costs are met by an annual charge on water entitlement holders.