Media release – Hydro Tasmania, 13 February 2025
Lake Rosebery closure extended as oil spill clean-up continues
The Lake Rosebery closure will be extended until 11:59pm on Friday 21 February to allow ongoing oil spill clean-up efforts.
Over the coming week there will be a focussed effort on removing oil from priority areas with the aim of returning lake activity to normal as soon as possible.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) transferred responsibility for recovery efforts to lake owner Hydro Tasmania on Friday 7 February last week, with the EPA continuing to provide advice and support.
Hydro Tasmania’s Head of Major Works Justin Vandervelde said the community’s support had allowed clean-up efforts to progress smoothly.
“We would like to thank the Tullah community for their ongoing patience and understanding as we carry out this complex operation,” Mr Vandervelde said.
“The interagency effort has made great progress but there is still work to do.”
Boats and manual shoreline cleaning are being used to remove oil residue from 26 kilometres of affected shoreline.
TasWater Incident Controller Matt Jordan said water quality testing at the Tullah Water Treatment Plant shows the water is safe to drink, despite the need to extend the lake closure.
“Our intake is approximately 26 metres below the water surface and some distance from the shore, meaning the intake water is protected from contamination,” said Mr Jordan.
“Multiple water samples taken from the site have not detected any contamination, and additional testing will continue to provide reassurance for our community.”
The EPA’s formal investigation is ongoing and it is anticipated it will be finalised later this year.
Media release – Environment Protection Authority (EPA), 8 February 2025
Next phase underway for Lake Rosebery oil spill
The Lake Rosebery Oil Spill response is moving into its next phase as the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) transfers responsibility for recovery efforts to lake owner Hydro Tasmania. The transition will see Hydro Tasmania take the lead on cleanup efforts.
As the lead agency, the EPA has been supported by Hydro Tasmania and other agencies throughout the response, including TasWater, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas), Public Health, Tas Ports and the West Coast Council.
EPA Director and CEO, Wes Ford said the response operation has moved from the original containment and collection activities to cleaning of impacted shorelines and recovery through ongoing monitoring and project management.
“As the critical incident response actions of containment and initial cleanup are completed, the ongoing cleanup project management will be undertaken by Hydro Tasmania, with the EPA providing ongoing advice and onsite support as required,” said Mr Ford.
Around 52.4 kilometres of lake shoreline was assessed for oiling impact following a spill from a historical mechanical maintenance tank, with approximately 26 kilometres of shoreline identified as oiled to varying degrees. The maintenance tank has since been drained of residual oily water and protected from further oil discharge, and operational priorities have been shifted to prioritise cleanup of the Henry Bay shoreline area.
“This has been a large and complex operation, and our response teams have worked diligently to clean a total of 1730 metres of shoreline and approximately sixty cubic metres of oiled green waste has been removed from affected areas to date,” Mr Ford said.
Plans are in place to control and recover any further spread of surface oil through ongoing use of collection booms and continuation of on-water and shore-based recovery of oil related products such as mousse, including any attached to foliage, branches, or shoreline terrain.
Wildlife monitoring responsibilities have been transitioned from a dedicated NRE Tas wildlife spotter to operational staff at Lake Rosebery.
“Wildlife Officers are satisfied that observed wildlife are displaying normal behaviour and appear in otherwise healthy condition, and with the positive progress of the cleanup and ongoing weathering of the oil, the risk of wildlife oiling is steadily decreasing,” said Mr Ford.
The EPA is currently undertaking formal investigations to determine what offences have been committed contrary to Tasmanian legislation and it is anticipated the investigation will be finalised later this year.
The lake has been declared a Prohibited Area by Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) and is closed until 11:59 pm on Friday 14 February 2025, unless cancelled sooner, and includes all waters of Lake Rosebery.
Media release – Environment Protection Authority (EPA), 30 January 2025
Lake Rosebery oil spill response continues
Work is continuing at Lake Rosebery to clean up an estimated 4,000L of oil that was flushed from an old storage tank earlier this month.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) response team on site is trialling several techniques to establish a cleaning regime for the affected vegetation and water on and around the lake.
“The lake has now been entirely mapped, providing a comprehensive picture of the extent of the spill,” EPA CEO and Director, Wes Ford said.
“Around 52.4 kilometres of shoreline has now been surveyed, as far as the Bastyan Dam, and our teams on the ground are methodically working through the data collected to inform options and longer-term decisions for clean-up operations and wildlife support.
“Water and shoreline-based teams continue to be vigilant for oil impacted wildlife while undertaking operations, and a dedicated oiled wildlife spotter has been deployed to the site full-time,” said Mr Ford.
Trials are underway in Mackintosh Gorge to determine the best techniques for cleaning affected areas. Using Tas Ports’ Pelican vessel and EPA punts to access heavily oiled areas of the gorge, teams are tackling deadwood, thick foliage and overhanging components.
The EPA has requested Hydro Tasmania lower the level of Lake Rosebery by 300 millimetres to enable safer shoreline access for clean-up efforts. Lowering the lake is part of the tactical response and will allow for more shoreline-based clean-up using waders rather than boats. It will also give extra clearance in the gorge where oiled foliage is located on steep and difficult to reach areas. The reduction will commence on Wednesday 29 January 2025 and remain lowered until shoreline cleanup has been completed in priority areas.
Mr Ford said water and shoreline impact data collected has established that there has been approximately 26 kilometres of shoreline confirmed oiled, and this information is being used to assist in the planning of the clean-up, including estimated timeframes.
The lake has been declared a Prohibited Area by Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) and extended until 11:59 pm on Friday 14 February 2025, unless cancelled sooner, and includes all waters of Lake Rosebery.
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 24 January 2025
Failed waste oil facility that has polluted Tasmania’s Lake Rosebery, should have been properly decommissioned
As the clean-up and investigations into the Lake Rosebery oil spill continue, Bob Brown Foundation has questioned the culpability of the original owners of the waste oil facility, state-owned entity the former Hydro Electric Commission.
“As we understand it, the Hydro Electric Commission operated the facility during the construction of dams in the Tullah area, and on-sold the facility rather than properly decommissioning it,” said Bob Brown Foundation takayna / Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.
“While the real impact of this oil spill may not yet be known, there are some serious questions that need answers now. Why was this facility, with clear environmental and public safety risks, not properly decommissioned? What other facilities in Tasmania have been on-sold without decommissioning? What is being done by the state government to manage risks associated with former Hydro Electric Commission facilities?”
“What is beyond question is that this disaster was totally preventable and that action must be taken now to ensure it is not repeated,” said Scott Jordan.
