Tasmania is marking a major milestone in one of its most significant infrastructure upgrades with the ongoing construction of a 10-megalitre sewage storage tank and pump station at Ti Tree Bend, valued at AUD 76 million
The Ti Tree Bend project is a key component of the Tamar Estuary River Health Action Plan (TERHAP), and will contribute to a 70% reduction in nutrients discharged into the estuary. In total, AUD 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.
“The completion of the Ti Tree Bend Sewage Treatment Plant Covered Storage Project will see a 70 per cent reduction of nutrients discharged to the Kanamaluka/Tamar estuary,” said Tony Willmott, TasWater General Manager Project Delivery. “The increased storage at Ti Tree Bend also provides capacity to commence work on the Launceston Sewer Transformation (LST), a long-term strategy which will see us rationalise ageing treatment facilities into a new modern facility at Ti Tree Bend.”
The Launceston Sewer Transformation (LST) will further improve environmental outcomes and unlock growth potential for industrial estates like Legana, while boosting recycled water use for the agricultural and industrial sectors.
Construction of the tank began in March and is already 50% complete, with final delivery expected by mid-2026. The build has involved 3,500 cubic metres of concrete and 900 tonnes of reinforced steel, with fabrication and installation undertaken by local contractors from Westbury.
“Once completed, this new storage capacity will enable us to temporarily store and buffer any incoming flows from the combined Launceston sewer system before we then transfer these flows to the existing plant for the final phase of treatment,” Willmott added.
The project is expected to generate AUD 283 million in economic activity and create 879 jobs. So far, around 80 people have worked on-site, with workforce numbers set to rise as construction ramps up.
“It’s a pleasure to keep our community and funding partners updated on our progress to deliver benefits for greater Launceston,” said Willmott.
Looking ahead, TasWater’s broader AUD 1.9 billion investment in infrastructure over the next five years reflects a long-term commitment to delivering reliable, sustainable water and sewerage services across Tasmania.
