The Liberal Government congratulates Nyrstar Hobart for the completion today of a project that has seen the rehabilitation of a large area of their Hobart smelter site.
Today I joined Nyrstar staff, members of state and local government, environmental regulators, local community and industry members at a ceremony to mark the completion of the Loogana-Inshalla foreshore rehabilitation project.
The Derwent Estuary is synonymous with Hobart and substantial work has occurred over recent years to ensure we have a clean, healthy waterway for future generations.
Nyrstar have undertaken more than a decade of rehabilitation works at the Lutana site. Since 2002, Nyrstar Hobart has focused on rehabilitating many areas of its Lutana site to reduce environmental impacts and to improve the aesthetics of the site.
The completion of a stormwater harvesting, re-use and revegetation project at the Loogana-Inshalla foreshore area is a significant achievement for the company and for the environment.
Nyrstar’s Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse Project has enabled the site to increase stormwater retention capacity which will significantly contribute to the ability of the company to prevent flows of contaminated stormwater to the Derwent Estuary.
The completion of an on-site reverse osmosis water treatment plant, scheduled for mid-2015, will provide sufficient treatment of retained stormwater to allow re-use of the water in the smelter’s processes and will significantly reduce the site’s consumption of potable water.
Their capture of 100 per cent of stormwater on the site since the project’s inception is a remarkable effort, and will contribute substantially to a cleaner Derwent. More than ten thousand trees, shrubs and grasses have also been planted as part of a re-vegetation plan.
On behalf of the State Government I congratulate Nyrstar Hobart for their efforts to date and for their commitment to continue working to achieve improved environmental outcomes.
Matthew Groom, Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage
