In Tasmania's fertile north east, water is the lifeblood of the farming industry. The Winnaleah region's agricultural producers — from dairy farmers to crop growers — depend on a reliable irrigation supply to keep their operations productive year after year. But as demand from the farming sector continued to grow, Tasmania Irrigation recognised that the existing infrastructure wouldn't be enough to support the region's future. The answer was a major upgrade to the Winnaleah Irrigation Scheme, and Viadux was the pipeline partner trusted to help deliver it.
Planning for the Future, Not Just the Present
Good infrastructure planning means looking decades ahead, not just at next season. Tasmania Irrigation took exactly this approach when assessing the Winnaleah region's water needs. Rather than simply meeting current demand, the principal set out to secure enough supply capacity to handle future peak seasons — ensuring local farmers would never be left short during the critical growing periods when irrigation matters most.
After careful analysis, Tasmania Irrigation determined that a supply capacity of 6,950 megalitres per year would comfortably meet current requirements while providing the headroom needed for agricultural growth well into the future. With the target set, attention turned to the pipeline infrastructure that would make this capacity a reality.
Choosing the Right Pipeline Partner
Tasmania Irrigation and the project's pipeline construction contractors, Shaw Contracting, turned to Viadux for the pipeline expertise the scheme demanded. From the outset, this was a genuinely collaborative effort — Viadux worked closely with both Shaw Contracting and IPD Consulting to make sure the pipeline system selected would fully satisfy Tasmania Irrigation's performance requirements.
This collaborative approach is a hallmark of how Viadux operates on major water infrastructure projects. Pipeline selection isn't just about choosing a product off the shelf; it's about understanding operating pressures, flow capacities, ground conditions and long-term performance expectations, then matching the right system from a comprehensive product range to those exact needs.
Why Ductile Iron Was the Answer
After evaluating the scheme's requirements, Viadux recommended a TYTON ductile iron pipeline system. The recommendation was grounded in proven performance: ductile iron has a well-established track record of handling the capacity and pressure demands expected throughout an irrigation pipeline's operational life.
But there was another compelling reason behind the choice. When installed correctly, a ductile iron pipeline can deliver an extended design life of 100 years. For a public infrastructure investment of this scale, that century-long service life represents exceptional long-term value — the kind of durability that means the farmers of Winnaleah, and likely their grandchildren, can rely on the same pipeline for generations.
Going Beyond Supply: Training for a 100-Year Asset
A pipeline's design life is only achievable if it's installed to the highest standard, and this is where Viadux added value well beyond product supply. To give the Winnaleah pipeline the best possible opportunity to reach its intended 100-year design life, Viadux provided Shaw Contracting with its Century Plus II installation training program.
This commitment to installation excellence reflects a simple truth about water infrastructure: the quality of the workmanship in the ground matters just as much as the quality of the pipe itself. By equipping the construction team with specialised training, Viadux helped protect Tasmania Irrigation's investment for the long haul.
Delivering on Schedule
The numbers behind the project tell the story of its scale. Viadux supplied 10 kilometres of DN500 and DN600 TYTON ductile iron pipes, complemented by SUREFLOW valves and fittings to complete the pipeline system.
Logistics were managed with the same care as product selection. Deliveries were staged over a six-month period, carefully aligned with Shaw Contracting's construction schedule so that materials arrived exactly when the build required them — keeping the project moving efficiently without site congestion or costly delays.
A Lasting Result for North East Tasmania
The Winnaleah Irrigation Scheme was successfully commissioned in May 2012, delivering the increased capacity Tasmania Irrigation had planned for. More importantly, it secured the water supply for the farmers of north east Tasmania for many years to come, giving the region's agricultural industry the confidence to invest, expand and grow.
The project sits alongside other major irrigation and rural water works in the Viadux portfolio, including the Greenways Irrigation Pipeline and the Hamilton-Grampians Pipeline — each one a demonstration of how the right pipeline expertise turns water security plans into reality.
Talk to Viadux About Your Next Irrigation Project
Whether you're planning a regional irrigation scheme, a trunk main or a bulk water transfer pipeline, Viadux has the products, the project experience and the technical support to help you succeed. Browse more of our industry case studies, learn more about Viadux, or contact our team on 1300 VIADUX (842 389) to discuss your project requirements.
