EVALUATION COMPLETE
Providing wastewater infrastructure that meets contemporary standards, protects waterway health and supports housing development is a national priority. Ageing infrastructure and a significant renewals backlog have led to Launceston’s sewerage system failing to meet current or proposed water quality regulations, and it is anticipated that population growth would outpace the capacity of the system within the next five years. The proposal would contribute to meeting Tasmania’s National Housing Accord targets and support the objectives of the Launceston City Deal, and the Tamar Estuary River Health Action Plan which is jointly funded by the Australian Government, Tasmanian Government, TasWater and the City of Launceston.
PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION
The greater Launceston area, with a population of almost 100,000 people, is currently serviced by seven sewage treatment plants, which discharge into the Kanamaluka/Tamar estuary, one of the largest estuaries in Tasmania.
The proposal is for these seven plants to be consolidated into one sewage treatment plant, creating capacity for projected housing growth in Launceston and ensuring the sewerage system is compliant with environmental standards.
INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATION
The Australian Government should consider prioritising the proposal for planning investment, supporting detailed investigations for system upgrades to meet environmental standards.
OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES
The proposal has the potential to:
- Improve health and environmental outcomes – sewerage improvements would improve nutrient removal performance, support compliance with discharge standards and enhance water quality in the Tamar estuary.
- Support liveability – improved sewerage discharge standards and enhanced water quality in the Tamar Estuary would support liveability outcomes and provide additional recreational benefits for the community.
- Support housing supply – addressing capacity constraints in the sewer network is expected to support the development of 10,000 new residential dwellings in the long-term.
- Support sustainability outcomes – upgrading the sewage treatment plants could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60%, compared to the existing assets, supporting net zero and sustainability objectives.
NEXT STEPS
Proponent to progress planning activities (in line with Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework), including:
- finalising options analysis that identifies the optimum package of upgrades and timing requirements
- clarifying how the proposal would interact with existing projects delivered by the Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce and co-funded by the Australian Government.
