… TasWater, getting on with the job of building Tasmania’s infrastructure
The first sod has been turned on King Island’s new $17.4 million water supply project.
At a ceremony in Grassy this morning, TasWater CEO Michael Brewster joined King Island District High School students in breaking ground on the project which will bring top quality drinking water to residents of Grassy and Currie.
King Island Mayor Duncan McFie and fellow councillors and council officials also attended.
The project will involve the construction of a brand new state of the art water treatment plant on the site of the existing Grassy water treatment facility.
The water will then be piped over a distance of 26 kilometres to Currie.
The final pipeline route will be constructed from Grassy to where it will join the Old Grassy Road at Lymwood.
Both towns will be supplied from new reservoirs, one on Mount Stanley which will store the treated water before it is gravity fed onto Currie where it will join the existing reticulation system.
The water will be sourced from the Upper Grassy Dam. The facilities that draw the water from the dam will be improved and include a new pump station.
“I am confident Currie residents will quickly appreciate the improvements in the water, Mr. Brewster said.
“It will taste better, will be softer and not contain elements present in the current water which can cause problems for appliances and hot water cylinders.”
Importantly the water will meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, bringing long term health benefits for the King Island community.
The contract for the pipeline has been let to company MSD Constructions with final negotiations underway for the construction of the treatment plant by a company which has previously provided several water treatment plants across Tasmania.
Michael Brewster said the project has been in the planning for some time but is confident delays resulting from detailed assessment of the pipeline routes, placement of reservoirs and the treatment plant will mean King Island’s water system will serve the community for generations to come.
The system has extra capacity build in to support growth on the island including new developments already in the planning stages.
TasWater is proud to be progressing this project which demonstrates our commitment to the community members of King Island.
Water from the new treatment plant should be available mid next year.
TasWater
