Tasmania’s water infrastructure will receive over $54 million for upgrades through a national initiative aimed at improving water quality and security in regional areas.
The Australian Government’s $211 million Water Infrastructure for Sustainable and Efficient Regions program will support four projects across the state.
Funding includes $20 million from the federal government and $34.9 million from TasWater.
$20.4 million will fund the construction of a new water treatment plant in Bothwell and a connection to the Southern Highlands Irrigation Scheme to address water quality and availability issues in Central Tasmania.
Another $19.1 million will be directed to the Cambridge-Clarence Recycled Water Interconnector.
The project will supply approximately 190-megalitres of recycled water annually for agricultural use and contribute to protecting the Pitt Water-Orielton Lagoon.
The Ellendale Water Supply Pipeline Project has been allocated $7 million to link Ellendale’s water supply to the Fentonbury water treatment plant and $8.4 million will be used to replace the Oatlands Water Treatment Plant.
Construction on all four projects is expected to begin this year.
“These upgrades will strengthen Tasmania’s water infrastructure and improve the availability and quality of recycled water for our local irrigation area, helping local farmers,” Franklin MP Julie Collins said.
Primary Industries and Water Minister Jane Howlett said TasWater has also outlined a broader $1.9 billion investment in water and sewerage infrastructure over the next five years.
This includes a long-term plan to recycle 100% of its wastewater by 2050.
“Agriculture is at the heart of many regional Tasmanian communities and these projects support those farming businesses as well as those Tasmanians that call these towns home,” Howlett said.
