Making the most of secure water: a framework to aid decision making

Decision-making on agricultural land-use in Tasmania is a very complex process and now involves consideration of irrigation expansion to meet agricultural water demands in uncertain climate and economic conditions in the future. Tasmania Irrigation (a State Government owned company) is interested in adding value to water trading and attracting farmer investment. Tasmanian farmers are concerned about the investment returns when buying into irrigation schemes. In this changing context (i.e. increased water security and changing economic returns) farmers and other decision makers need a framework to guide these investment decisions.