A new treated water transfer main will be installed as part of a major infrastructure upgrade in Launceston.
The project underway in Prospect Vale will protect the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary as Greater Launceston prepares for up to 10,000 new homes and improving environmental outcomes.
The Prospect Vale Sewerage Improvement Project is the first stage of TasWater’s proposed sewage treatment transformation across northern Tasmania.
The project will retire ageing infrastructure that is no longer meeting TasWater’s environmental and service standards, redirecting wastewater to the existing Ti Tree Bend Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), and supporting a more reliable and resilient sewer system across Launceston.
TasWater Head of Major Projects Andrew Truscott said the investment reflects the need to address ageing infrastructure that is reaching capacity and no longer meets community expectations and environmental standards.
“Tasmanians value and feel a strong connection to our local waterways. This project is about protecting these places, reducing environmental risks and ensuring the community can enjoy them safely for generations to come,” Truscott said.
“By upgrading Prospect Vale’s sewage infrastructure, TasWater is investing in the local area, keeping services reliable and supporting growth across Prospect Vale and surrounding communities by up to 10,000 new homes over the longer term.
“The current Prospect Vale STP can no longer meet modern environmental performance standards or accommodate the projected future community growth.
“This project is part of our broader investment over the next decade through the Launceston Sewer Transformation project, that will replace seven ageing treatment plants with a modernised system centred around an upgraded Ti Tree Bend plant, delivering improved treatment, reducing environmental impact, system resilience and capacity for future growth.”
The new treated water transfer main will help secure a more reliable drinking water supply for parts of Launceston by improving the connection between Mount Leslie Water Treatment Plant and the Upper Brougham reservoirs according to Truscott.
“Delivering this work alongside the sewer improvements reduces community disruption and maximises long term community benefit,” he said.
Prospect Vale Sewerage Improvement Project works will replace the sewage treatment plant with a new sewage pump station and pipeline to link with the existing sewer network at Ti Tree Bend.
“During construction, work will be carefully planned to minimise disruption, but there may be short term impacts including changes to traffic and access, construction noise and vehicle movements, and short term temporary partial closures to some of the areas including public dog parks,” Truscott said.
This important first stage of the pipeline project, is anticipated to be completed by late 2026, with further works currently scheduled to commence in late 2027.
