The report recognised the immediate need to rehabilitate the state’s ageing infrastructure, prioritising sewerage networks in Lanceston, Hobart and Devonport.
David Downie, TasWater’s Chief Owners Representative and Mayor of the Northern Midlands Council, anticipates the repair work will cost at least $1.7 billion.
“The TasWater Board has advised its 29 owner councils that the projected costs of the capital projects needed to be completed over the next 10 years, in order to bring Tasmania’s ageing and in many cases failing water and sewerage infrastructure up to modern day standards, is in the order of $1.7 billion,” said Mayor Downie.
“TasWater is only able to fund $1.2 billion of that by itself with an extra $500 million required from other sources to finish the work,” he added.
TasWater Chairman Miles Hampton said “Importantly, this challenges has now been put into a national perspective with Infrastructure Australia saying if Tasmania’s sewerage infrastructure isn’t brought up to standard soon, it will impact negatively on our national productivity.
“With this announcement, TasWater can continue with detailed plans to undertake these major upgrades and work with all levels of government around funding requirement.”