The quarry would be used as a back up if the organisation cannot source enough suitable clay closer to the irrigation scheme.

If the quarry is developed at 970 Blessington Road, White Hills, the clay will be used to line the walls of Dalness Dam.

Tasmanian Irrigation chief executive Nicola Morris said the White Hills quarry would ensure there was enough clay available for the dam wall.

“We are building a dam for the North Esk Irrigation Scheme and, as part of this, need to be able to access good quality clay to line the dam wall,” Ms Morris said.

“We have to have the quarry ready. It’s there if we can’t find enough clay nearby; it’s like our insurance,” she said.

Tasmanian Irrigation’s preference is to source clay closer to Dalness Dam, but a back up is needed if enough cannot be found.

“If we do use it we will have up to 300,000 cubic metres, but we want to minimise the cost,” Ms Morris said.

“We’ve had a project before and found we needed extra clay and then had to apply for a permit, which held things up,” she said.

Environment Protection Authority director Wes Ford said the quarry could be “developed and managed in an environmentally sustainable and acceptable manner” and Launceston City Council approved the application late last month.

“Tasmanian Irrigation will be required to manage stormwater and sediments through the installation of perimeter drains and sediment settlement ponds, as it must ensure that any stormwater discharged from the land does not cause environmental harm or nuisance,” Mr Ford said.

Mr Ford assessed the proposal against the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.

A final decision on the North Esk Irrigation Scheme now lays with the federal government, which Ms Morris expected by June or July 2017.