TasWater –protecting water supplies for Orford and Triabunna

In a move to shore up future water security for Orford and Triabunna, TasWater has given in principle support for the development of a new raw water dam on the Tea Tree Rivulet near Buckland.

The dam is being proposed by the Glamorgan Spring Bay council with backing from the Department of State Growth.

The dam will be within the Prosser River catchment which is the source of water which feeds into the Upper and Lower Prosser Dam as well as Brady and Maclaine dams.

These storages are all either currently at capacity, undersized or nearing the end of their design life.

TasWater has a strategy for the Triabunna and Orford area in relation to the ongoing development of infrastructure for both drinking water and sewage over the coming decades.

Developed last year, the strategy outlines the need to expand raw water storages with plans already under consideration to extend the Upper Prosser dam which is just downstream from the new proposed Tea Tree Rivulet Dam.

Initially, TasWater expressed caution over the council’s dam proposal, first wanting to establish it wouldn’t restrict access to enough water to meet projected growth in the area.

Following an agreement with the council, guaranteeing an extra 200 mega litres of water entering TasWater’s domestic supply storages, CEO Michael Brewster has given in principle support to the development.

TasWater is not a party to the dam’s construction nor is it contributing funds to construction however in the interests of developing a sustainable system of water resource management it is committed to working with other users, be it for recreation, industry or agriculture.

Mr. Brewster says TasWater’s overriding concern is to ensure a reliable supply for our customers well into the future.

The experience of the 2009-10 drought which saw water storages depleted to just 10 percent of reserves, indicated a very real need to invest in improved catchment management, storage capacity and efficient use of our east coast water resources.

TasWater will continue to work with the council on additional opportunities to reduce long term costs.
TasWater