Michael Ferguson,Minister for Finance
Yet again, Labor is irresponsibly standing on the sidelines with nothing new to offer – no semblance of a plan and absolutely no idea.
The Tasmanian and Australian Governments are investing $95 million to the key actions of the Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce’s River Health Action Plan.
Importantly, $10 million of those funds has already started to flow to improve catchment management across grazing, dairy and urban areas in the Tamar Estuary’s catchment. We are doing this in partnership with NRM North.
NRM North has already commenced riparian fencing and revegetation works to prevent pollutants from entering the catchment and work to remove sewage intrusion into the separated stormwater network around Launceston.
The landmark $85 million agreement, which has now been signed between the Tasmanian and Australian Governments, will deliver water infrastructure upgrades to reduce untreated overflows from City of Launceston’s combined sewerage and stormwater system.
Entirely as a result of the working partnership we have developed, TasWater will contribute a further $33.2 million and City of Launceston will contribute a further $11 million to this initiative, bringing the project’s total value to nearly $130 million.
TasWater is responsible for delivering the infrastructure upgrade works and the Tasmanian Government is working closely with them to progress it.
Labor should get behind this important project that will benefit generations to come in Launceston and along the Tamar.
