Water Quality Improvement Plan
The TEER Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) outlines the sources and loads of pollutants in the estuary and the catchment and recommends management actions to reduce pollutant loads in the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary and Esk rivers catchments.
Focus
The TEER WQIP was launched in 2015 and has been developed for the greater catchment area to:
provide a comprehensive whole-of-catchment picture of water quality in the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary and its tributaries;
develop an understanding of the drivers of water quality issues and the actions that can be used to address these; and
identify priority activities to address water quality issues.
The plan aims to provide direction to all catchment stakeholders on the role they can play in protecting and improving water quality. It also provides a framework and processes to report on their progress towards achieving and updating water quality targets.
The TEER WQIP details current loads, condition and sources of pollutants, pressures and opportunities of land use change, load and condition targets and recommended management actions. Development of the plan involved substantial consultation and engagement with the community and key stakeholders. Stakeholders were engaged through community forums, workshops, presentations to councils and industry, one-on-one meetings, and TEER Program committees.
Delivery
Managing such a complex system to improve water quality requires action by a broad section of the community. It is recognised that the WQIP needs to be implemented by a range of key stakeholders, so catchment stakeholders have been engaged throughout its development.
Recommended management actions to reduce pollutant loads in the catchment cover dryland grazing, management of dairy, crop, forest and stormwater systems, urban expansion in the Greater Launceston Area, scope of TasWater improvements, heavy metals and scientific investigations, modelling, and monitoring.
Funded Actions under the River Health Action Plan (RHAP)
The River Health Action Plan was developed by the Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce in 2017. Underpinned by the modeling and planning in the TEER Water Quality Improvement Plan, the RHAP identifies priority actions for investment to improve water quality.
Through the RHAP, a total of $140.7 million is being invested to reduce median pathogen concentrations in Zone 1 of the estuary (Launceston to Legana) by 40%.
Funding is provided under the Launceston City Deal by the Australian Government, Tasmanian Government, TasWater and City of Launceston to implement the key actions, namely:
$129.2 million is allocated through the Combined System Works to deliver infrastructure upgrades to reduce overflows from Launceston’s combined sewage and stormwater system.
$11.5 million is allocated to the Catchment Works Program to reduce pathogens for entering waterways across the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary and Esk rivers catchments including Launceston’s separated stormwater system.
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River Health Action Plan - Combined System Works
Combined sewage and stormwater system upgrades
The sewerage network in the older parts of Launceston carries both sewage and stormwater within one common pipe, known as a combined system. These combined flows are transported to the Ti Tree Bend Sewage Treatment Plant via a network of pipes and pump stations. There are network structures that are designed to overflow to the Estuary when rainfall produces stormwater volumes above the capacity of the pipes and pump stations. The Combined System Improvement projects to be implemented as part of TERHAP will provide infrastructure upgrades to reduce the number of times the system overflows to the Estuary each year and, as a result, provide water quality improvements.
Investment through the TERHAP will include upgrades and improvements to pipes, pump stations and network storage, which will increase the volume of combined sewage and stormwater transferred to the Treatment Plant. Some overflows will still occur during larger rain events but overall this will occur less often and result in less volume overflowing, which will significantly reduce the water quality impact on the Estuary.
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River Health Action Plan - Catchment Works Program
Sewage Intrusion Program
The sewage intrusion program investigated 13 catchments across the greater Launceston urban area as part of the River Health Action Plan Catchment Works Program. As of June 2021, these investigations found 41 confirmed sewage intrusions, two broken sewage mains and a collapsed stormwater main within the thirteen catchments; all of which are being rectified or are already fixed. The program concluded in June 2021 with the submission of an analysis report submitted in October 2021. These improvements to stormwater management will result in a significant reduction in pathogens and other pollutants entering the kanamaluka/Tamar estuary.
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River Health Action Plan - Catchment Works Program
Tamar Action Grants
The Tamar Action Grants program will reduce pathogen concentration in Zone 1 of the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary. Complementing the work being done on urban sewage and stormwater infrstructure, NRM North is providing funding for dairy farmers and graziers in the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary and Esk rivers catchment to exclude stock from waterways, which will reduce the pathogen load from diffuse sources in the catchment.
Funding is provided for installation of fencing and watering infrastructure, weed management and riparian revegetaiton, as well as improved effluent management practices in the dairy industry.