31 Oct 2024
Major milestones reached as finish line in sight for TERHAP project
The final major construction piece for the Tamar Estuary River Health Action Plan (TERHAP) is now underway, with the completed project set to reduce wet weather spill events into the estuary by 60 per cent, significantly improving environmental outcomes for the waterway.
The start of construction of a 10-megalitre covered storage tank at Ti Tree Bend Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) follows the recent completion of two other major milestones for TERHAP.
Today, funding partners from the Tasmanian Government, City of Launceston and TasWater joined Federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain, to tour the construction site at Ti Tree Bend.
TasWater Project Director - TERHAP Combined System Improvements, Andrew Truscott, said the Launceston community’s patience has been appreciated during the delivery of one of the largest projects of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
‘’It’s great to be able to share our progress with our funding partners. This project has been in the day-to-day lives of the Launceston people since 2022, and we can now see the finish line in 2026,’’ Mr Truscott said.
‘’The covered storage tank at Ti Tree Bend marks the final major construction piece of the TERHAP project. We’ve recently completed a three-kilometre pipeline between Margaret Street Sewage Pump Station, and Ti Tree Bend and significant upgrades at the Margaret Street Pump Station.
“The upgraded pump station will be able to pump the equivalent of 11,000 toilet flushes a minute through the new sewer pipeline.
‘We had 18 local contractors, with 60 people directly involved during works on the new pipeline and pump station upgrade.’’
Work is now underway on the construction of the 10-megalitre storage tank at our Ti Tree Bend STP, equivalent in volume to four Olympic swimming pools.
‘’Significant ground improvements at Ti Tree Bend have been undertaken to enable construction, including more than 28,000 cubic metres of soil being mixed and stabilised, using a construction method known as mass soil mixing,’’ Mr Truscott said.
‘’In addition to the ground improvements, around 120 concrete piles have been installed to a depth of 20 metres to provide further stability and strength for the new concrete storage tank.
‘’The new storage tank will increase capacity at the STP and minimise overflows to kanamaluka/Tamar estuary during times of high rainfall.
‘’This tank will also support the future consolidation of other treatment facilities in the Launceston region.’’
TERHAP is an initiative of the Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce (TEMT) and the Launceston City Deal, to improve the health of kanamaluka/Tamar estuary.
A total of $129.2 million is being invested by the Australian Government, Tasmanian Government, TasWater and City of Launceston under the Launceston City Deal to implement the key actions in the plan.
TasWater is investing $1.9 billion in its asset portfolio over the next five years to ensure it can continue to deliver exceptional water and sewerage services for a thriving Tasmania.
Economic and project data :
• The total value of the New Sewer Pipeline Project is $40M.
• The total value of the Margaret Street Pump Station upgrade is $9M
• The total value of the 10 Megalitre Storage Tank at Ti Tree Bend is $76M
• To date around 80 people have worked on the Storage Tank, with these numbers scheduled to increase as the project progresses.
• Works at Ti Tree Bend are being delivered by local contractors, One Earth Excavations and specialists from around Australia.
• Construction on the storage tank is due to be completed in 2026.
• The project will help reduce the combined sewage and stormwater overflow volumes.
• TERHAP projects are being delivered to improve the health of kanamaluka/Tamar estuary.