Juniper Lea is a 500-hectare dairy operation in the Meander Valley, northern Tasmania, that has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. Purchased in 2018, the property was converted from a mix of piggery, cropping and failed plantation land into a dairy system, with milking commencing in 2020. Today, the operation supports more than 1,000 milking cows at peak, with irrigation playing a central role in enabling productivity and long-term returns.
A critical early step in the conversion was assessing both the land and available water resources. A combination of Tasmanian Irrigation supply, winter and spring take, and bore water helped determine the scale of irrigation possible and provided confidence to proceed with the development.
Water management extends beyond irrigation infrastructure alone. On-farm water storage provides additional flexibility throughout the irrigation season, helping the business make the most of available water resources and support consistent pasture production. As the operation continues to evolve, future irrigation development opportunities are assessed through the same practical approach, balancing productivity, return on investment and long-term farm performance.
Irrigation design was approached methodically, balancing pasture production per megalitre, capital and operating costs, projected return on investment, and ease of management. Independent advice played an important role in ensuring design decisions were robust and comparable across suppliers.
The system now combines centre pivots and solid set sprinklers to optimise water use across different parts of the property. Centre pivots were installed first to efficiently cover large grazing areas, offering strong water use efficiency and relatively low running costs. Solid set sprinklers were later introduced in areas where pivots were less suitable, providing greater flexibility and improved water infiltration, despite higher upfront costs.
Drainage was also identified early as a key consideration, with the team recognising early that irrigation and drainage need to work together to avoid waterlogging and maintain pasture performance. Investment in drainage across the irrigated area has been an important part of achieving consistent results.
Two accompanying videos provide further insights. In the first, John Wilson and Luke Davey-Baldock outline how water resources, storage and irrigation management have supported the farm’s development. In the second, they explain the decision-making behind system design, including system selection, independent advice and optimising return on investment.
Overall, Juniper Lea demonstrates the value of understanding water resources, integrating irrigation and drainage, and taking a structured, practical approach to design and management.
This case study was produced by Pinion Advisory, as part of the Water Use Efficiency project funded by TAS Farm Innovation Hub through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
Jo Jones
Manager – Ag Production and Adoption