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Swimmers, fishers and locals in Orford will be pleased with the news that TasWater has completed work on an upgraded treated effluent outfall at Quarry Point, providing a significant improvement to the area’s environmental health and amenity.

The Orford treated effluent outfall is located below sandstone cliffs between Spring Beach and East Shelley Beach.

The original concrete underwater pipeline was damaged during a storm in 2015 breaking off about 80 metres of the 100 metre pipeline.

TasWater CEO Michael Brewster said the new pipeline not only fixes the broken structure but provides a much improved outfall facility by extending a further 180 metres into Mercury Passage.

“It provides better disposal and distribution of the treated effluent from the Orford Sewage Treatment Plant thereby reducing any potential public health and environmental risks for users of the popular water way.”

The new pipeline is also buried underground over a section where previously it was bolted to an historic sandstone quarry, the source of stone for some of Melbourne’s historic buildings. The new pipeline runs underground from the top of Quarry Point, achieved by directionally drilling a hole through the point’s bedrock and under the seabed.

During the drilling work, carried out by Wynyard based contractor Jemrok, Manning Drive and the walking track at Quarry Point were temporarily closed.

“Now reopened, we would like to thank the residents of Orford and Manning Drive in particular, for their patience as TasWater completed its work,” Mr Brewster said.

“This project is part of TasWater’s Orford and Triabunna Water and Sewerage Strategy which sets out the long term infrastructure needs of the area, targeting growing demand, compliance with Environment Protection Authority regulations and to secure the water supply and environmental health of this region for future generations.”

Click on this link to veiw video of the undersea construction work, courtesy of Jemrok: http://www.taswater.com.au/Community—Environment/Water—Sewerage-Improvement-Projects/Water—Sewerage-Improvement-Projects
TasWater