Sheffield’s TasWater Depot gets an upgrade

TasWater has opened its latest upgrade in the Kentish Council area with staff at Sheffield’s sewage treatment plant moving into new facilities at the Old Paradise Road sewage treatment plant complex.

Acting CEO, Glen Jameson says “staff facilities and the workshop and storage areas have previously been housed in converted shipping containers, relocatable buildings and a shed. It was originally set up as a temporary depot for crews covering Sheffield, Railton, Barrington and the Cradle Valley area when Cradle Mountain Water took over water and sewerage services from the council.”

The new building, designed by Ulverstone’s Universal Designers with Quoiba based contractor, Mead Con, completing the building work.

The facility contains an office, a meeting room, toilets, showers and laundry facilities for staff. A testing laboratory and two large storage rooms completes what is now a permanent depot at Sheffield offering staff a much improved, contemporary work environment allowing Tas Water to provide the best and most efficient service to our customers.

Glen Jameson says “I am really happy to see this depot undergo a significant upgrade. TasWater crews are called upon all hours of the day and night to attend to supply problems. It makes a real difference if their depot has good facilities for storing equipment and provides comfortable areas to take breaks and clean up, especially when called out during bad weather or having to work in challenging conditions.”

“This facility at Sheffield is an indication of our commitment to regional areas and to provide an efficient and sustainable water and sewerage system. TasWater has a plan to spend more than $300 million over the next three years on upgrading and building new infrastructure across the state.”

“That spending is taking place in all areas of Tasmania with communities like Sheffield sharing the investment along with the larger town and cities.”
Mayor of Kentish, Cr Don Thwaites welcomes the upgrade of facilities at the Sheffield sewage treatment plant saying good quality and safe working conditions are most important.

“The previous standard of facilities was very basic and temporary. Proper monitoring and testing areas, cleaning and wash down spaces will enable staff to work at their best.”

Six local TasWater staff will use the new depot as their work base for managing and maintaining water and sewerage services throughout the area.

TasWater representatives and staff were joined at the plant today by Kentish Mayor Cr Don Thwaites and several other council representatives for the official opening.

Councillor Thwaites said “On behalf of Council I congratulate TasWater on the new development.”
Simon Pilkington, TasWater