The Government’s plan to take control of TasWater is vital for the continued growth in our visitor economy, particularly in regional Tasmania.
Bicheno, a tourism draw card on the beautiful East Coast is a classic example.
Almost 200,000 people visited this idyllic town over the last year, but the waste water treatment plant is not compliant with the standards and it has experienced a number of sewerage spills recently.
This seriously threatens our precious brand, as even TasWater themselves have acknowledged.
There are over 400 businesses operating out of the Triabunna-Bicheno area, with around 100 of those in the accommodation, food and retail sectors. These businesses and local residents deserve much better.
Under our plan, planned improvements to the Bicheno waste water treatment plant will be completed in 2021, a year before work would even begin on the plant under the TasWater plan, and two years ahead of when they say they would complete the upgrade.
This is a clear example of the practical benefits of our plan to take control of TasWater which will fix infrastructure sooner and keep prices lower.
Will Hodgman, Premier
