The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is handing over responsibility for clean-up efforts at Lake Rosebery to the lake’s owner after a major 5,000-litre oil spill.
Hydro Tasmania will now take charge of clearing the remaining oil from the shoreline, continuing environmental monitoring and overseeing the project.
EPA Director Wes Ford described the response, which has been underway for several weeks, as “large and complex”.
“Our response teams have worked diligently to clean a total of 1,730 metres of shoreline and approximately sixty cubic metres of oiled green waste has been removed from affected areas to date,” he said.
Of the 52.4 kilometres of shoreline assessed, 26 kilometres were found to be contaminated by oil to varying degrees.
The oil tank responsible for the spill has since been drained and secured to prevent “further oil discharge”.
Investigations are ongoing to determine what offences may have been committed, Ford said.
Containment booms, along with on-water and shore-based recovery methods, will continue to capture and remove any remaining oil.
The lake remains closed to the public until at least February 14.
