A sewerage upgrade has begun in Prospect Vale that will prepare greater Launceston for up to 10,000 new homes while helping protect the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary.
The sewerage improvement project is the first stage of TasWater’s planned overhaul of sewage treatment across northern Tasmania.
It will retire ageing infrastructure that no longer meets environmental and service standards, redirecting wastewater to the existing Ti Tree Bend Sewage Treatment Plant.
TasWater head of major projects Andrew Truscott said the current Prospect Vale plant was reaching capacity and could no longer meet modern environmental standards or handle projected growth.
“Tasmanians value and feel a strong connection to our local waterways,” Truscott said.
“This project is about protecting these places, reducing environmental risks and ensuring the community can enjoy them safely for generations to come.”
He said the upgrade would keep services reliable and support up to 10,000 new homes across Prospect Vale and surrounding communities over the longer term.
The project is part of a decade-long effort called the Launceston Sewer Transformation, which will replace seven ageing treatment plants with a modernised system centred on an upgraded Ti Tree Bend plant.
TasWater will also install a new treated water main to improve the connection between the Mount Leslie Water Treatment Plant and the Upper Brougham reservoirs, securing a more reliable drinking water supply for parts of the city.
Truscott said delivering the water and sewer works together would reduce disruption for the community.
The old treatment plant will be replaced with a new sewage pump station and pipeline linking to the existing sewer network at Ti Tree Bend.
Truscott said construction would be carefully planned, but warned of short-term impacts including changes to traffic and access, construction noise and temporary partial closures to some areas, including public dog parks.
The first stage is expected to be completed by late 2026, with further works scheduled to start in late 2027.
