TasWater is progressing with one of the most significant environmental and infrastructure initiatives in its history: the Launceston Sewer Transformation (LST) Project. Located in northern Tasmania, Australia, the programme will modernise and consolidate ageing wastewater assets, protect the Kanamaluka/Tamar estuary — which runs through Launceston and flows north to Bass Strait — and unlock capacity for future urban and industrial growth.
The move to the next stage of design marks a major milestone and reinforces the LST as a centrepiece of TasWater’s Price and Service Plan 5 (PSP5). Under the proposal, AUD 435 million is allocated over the current four-year pricing period for essential infrastructure programmes. In total, TasWater plans to invest AUD 1.7 billion in community infrastructure over the same period, supporting environmental improvements and thousands of local jobs.
At the core of the Launceston Sewer Transformation is the retirement of six ageing sewage treatment plants — Prospect Vale, Hoblers Bridge, Norwood, Riverside, Legana and Newnham — with flows redirected to a significantly upgraded Ti Tree Bend Sewage Treatment Plant in Invermay. This consolidation will modernise wastewater treatment performance, strengthen environmental compliance and ensure sufficient capacity for new housing and economic development across the region.
Key components include a new sewage pump station and pipeline at Prospect Vale, upgraded pump stations at Hoblers Bridge and Norwood, future improvements in Riverside, Legana and Newnham, and major capacity enhancements at Ti Tree Bend.
The LST builds on initiatives delivered through the Tamar Estuary River Health Action Plan (TERHAP), including a new sewer pipeline from the upgraded Margaret Street Sewage Pump Station and a 10-megalitre storage tank at Ti Tree Bend, expected to be completed in mid-2026. These projects will significantly reduce overflow events into the Kanamaluka/Tamar estuary.
“The responsible thing to do is invest now to avoid future costs and environmental harm,” said TasWater Project Director Andrew Truscott. “This project will deliver lasting benefits for Launceston’s waterways and community.”
