The Victorian Government has pledged $16 million to kickstart the major modernisation works of the Macalister Irrigation District (MID).

Deputy Premier, Peter Ryan, said that the funding will be delivered to upgrade the MID over the next three years, with a co-contribution of $16 million from irrigators.

“The modernisation will increase the amount of food this region produces, boosting the local and state economy with this initial phase to return 12,300 megalitres (ML) of water a year to productive use,” Mr Ryan said.

State Water Minister, Peter Walsh, said that the funding will improve the delivery of water to farms, boost agricultural output and drive greater on-farm efficiency.

“The Macalister region contains some of Australia’s most valuable and productive grazing land, with about 33,500 hectares under irrigation,” Mr Walsh said.

“The modernisation will provide irrigators with reliable and secure water supplies to help increase production and meet the Coalition Government’s ambitious target to double Victoria’s food and fibre production by 2030.

“The pipeline will result in a further 13,500 ML of water savings that will then be available for irrigators, increasing the productivity of the district.”