The Tasmanian Greens today threw their weight behind the Tamar River health situation and the local push for a solution to the ongoing Launceston sewerage issue.
Greens Water spokesperson Tim Morris MP and Member for Bass Kim Booth MP sent a statement of support to today’s rally as they could not attend due to Parliament.
Greens Water spokesperson Tim Morris MP said that the Greens were proposing having an investigation undertaken into the feasibility of separating the sewerage and stormwater systems and handing the existing system, minus the sewerage, to the Launceston City Council for stormwater use.
“It is expected that this investigation would cost around $250,000 and the process would include public consultation”, said Mr Morris.
“We can’t keep applying band-aid fixes, they only lead to further costs in the future. We need a report that examines the feasible options whilst not wasting the existing infrastructure.”
“The most practical and logical solution appears to be a separation of sewerage and stormwater systems and a long term plan to make this happen.”
“The existing combined sewerage and stormwater system appears to be unlikely to ever achieve satisfactory environmental outcomes for the Tamar estuary,” Mr Morris said.
Download: Statement presented to today’s Launceston rally on behalf of T Morris and K Booth:
Aug20_Joint_Statement-Launceston_Sewage_Rally-T_Morris-K_Booth_MR.pdf
Tim Morris MP Greens Water Spokesperson
