Launceston Sewerage Improvement Project: Essential. Sustainable. Affordable
Launceston Sewerage Improvement Project: Essential. Sustainable. Affordable
Why is an upgrade required?
A high quality and reliable sewage system is essential to preserving the health
of our community, environment and economy.
TasWater currently operates and maintains a complicated network of seven
Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) that stretche across greater Launceston
serving a population of approximately 75,000.
Project Objectives
The Launceston Sewerage Improvement Project aims to deliver a 21st
Century sewerage system that has the capacity to service the greater
Launceston area for many generations to come.
These plants are 30 to 50 years old and over this time the population, usage
and environmental standards have all increased considerably.
A range of options are on the table from upgrading all seven sewage
treatment plants, to building a new plant and decommissioning some and
upgrading others.
The end result is an outdated and inconsistent system that is simply unable to
meet the demands of a modern day Launceston, let alone support one of the
future.
All options bring any remaining and new sewage treatment plants into full
compliance with contemporary environmental standards, minimising
environmental and social impacts.
The overall demand on existing Launceston sewerage infrastructure is only
increasing. It is predicted to double over the next 50 years, with even greater
demand increases expected in high growth areas like Legana and Prospect.
However, other factors such as cost, environmental outcomes, practicality,
affordability and community impacts have been critical in assessing these
and other possible options.
Our lifestyles, the capacity for Launceston to grow and the ability of businesses
to invest and create new jobs is dependent on the development of a modern
cost effective sewage treatment system.
TasWater is committed to working with the community to deliver the 21st
century sewerage service they expect, need and can afford.
This is set to be one of TasWater’s largest infrastructure projects in the state
and a pivotal investment in the region’s future.
The project will be guided by the expectations and the views of the local
community, which will be used to inform the business case to be presented
to TasWater’s Board later this year.
Get involved, learn more and Have Your Say at taswater.com.au
Launceston Sewerage Improvement Project: Essential. Sustainable. Affordable
Several options were assessed with four options now being considered to improve the sewerage system for the Greater Launceston area.
Option 1 - Upgrade all existing STPs
What does it involve?
•
Prioritised and staged upgrades of all existing STPs.
•
Ti Tree Bend STP: Upgraded for combined
drainage flows.
What are the benefits?
•
Staged implementation.
•
Potential to optimise existing infrastructure.
What are the disadvantages?
•
7 separate STP sites.
•
Substantial upgrade requirements at all sites Limited space to allow existing operations and concurrent
construction of new works.
Option 1 at a glance:
High capital cost for all upgrades.
•
$235 million total capital cost for
2020–60
Demand/Compliance.
High operations cost.
•
•
•
$10.5 million per annum operations cost.
Launceston Sewerage Improvement Project: Essential. Sustainable. Affordable
Several options were assessed with four options now being considered to improve the sewerage system for the Greater Launceston area.
Option 2 – New Southern STP with part reuse and New Newnham STP
What does it involve?
•
Wastewater from the Hoblers Bridge, Norwood and Prospect Vale
STPs transferred to new Southern STP.
•
Ti Tree Bend STP – Upgraded for combined drainage flows.
•
Newnham STP – New STP to accept Legana and
Riverside sewage.
What are the benefits?
•
Potential for treated effluent reuse (irrigation / industry).
•
Decommission Legana, Riverside, Prospect Vale, Hoblers Bridge
and Norwood STPs.
What are the disadvantages?
•
STP’s located at three separate sites.
Option 2 at a glance:
•
Land purchase and/or agreements required for large reuse area.
•
$190 million capital cost for 2020 Demand/Compliance.
•
Highest capital cost for staged implementation.
•
Highest overall capital cost.
•
$290 million total capital cost for 2025-2060 Demand/Compliance.
•
Highest operations cost.
•
$10.5 million per annum operations cost.
Launceston Sewerage Improvement Project: Essential. Sustainable. Affordable
Several options were assessed with four options now being considered to improve the sewerage system for the Greater Launceston area.
Option 3 – New Northern STP located at Ti Tree Bend
What does it involve?
•
Wastewater from the Hoblers Bridge, Legana,
Riverside, Newnham, Prospect Vale, Norwood and the
separate sewerage sub-catchments within the Ti-Tree Bend
catchment would be transferred to new Northern STP.
•
Ti Tree Bend STP – Upgraded for combined drainage flows.
•
Legana STP – Initially retained for re-use and surplus flows
to the New Northern Plant.
What are the benefits?
•
One centralised STP site at Ti Tree Bend.
•
Lowest capital cost for staged implementation.
•
Lowest overall capital cost.
•
Lowest operations cost.
•
Existing STP site with established buffer.
Option 3 at a glance:
What are the disadvantages?
•
$105 million capital cost for 2020 Demand/Compliance.
•
Poor ground conditions requires piling for structures
•
$205 million total capital cost for 2025-2060 Demand/Compliance.
•
Odour issues from existing Ti Tree Bend STP
•
$8.9 million per annum operations cost.
Launceston Sewerage Improvement Project: Essential. Sustainable. Affordable
Several options were assessed with four options now being considered to improve the sewerage system for the Greater Launceston area.
Option 4 – New Killafaddy STP and New Newnham STP
What does it involve?
•
Wastewater from Hoblers Bridge, Norwood and Prospect Vale
STPs would be transferred to the new plant.
•
Ti-Tree Bend STP: Upgraded hydraulic and treatment capacity.
•
Newnham STP: Legana STP and Riverside STP
transferred to new Newnham STP.
•
Legana STP: Initially retained for re-use and surplus flows
to the new Newnham Plant.
What are the benefits?
•
Decommission Legana,Riverside, Prospect Vale,
Hoblers Bridge and Norwood STPs.
What are the disadvantages
•
STPs located at three separate sites.
•
Dependant on planning at Killafaddy site.
Option 4 at a glance:
•
High capital cost for staged implementation.
•
$150 million capital cost for 2020 Demand/Compliance.
•
High overall capital cost.
•
$240 million total capital cost for 2025-2060 Demand/Compliance.
•
High operations cost.
•
$9.5 million per annum operations cost.