The pipeline will provide safe and secure water to the rural community of Ellendale. Photo: Deyan Georgiev.
Construction on the $7 million Ellendale water supply pipeline is complete and water is flowing, with the Tasmanian Government hailing the project as a major milestone for the regional parts of the state.
The pipeline carries water from the Ellendale water supply to the Fentonbury water-treatment plant.
For the past few years, the town of Ellendale has had to rely on water carting in the summer. This new pipeline rectifies that, ensuring high-quality water is available year-round for Ellendale residents.
”We know that strong water security is vital for our regional communities,” Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water Gavin Pearce said.
“The Ellendale pipeline will provide a huge boost in resilience and confidence for the community, both on the farm and in the home.”
The pipeline also reduces pressure on the Jones River, allowing more water for environmental flows, supporting ecosystems and the region’s flora and fauna.
Ellendale’s new pipeline is the first project in the Commonwealth completed under the Australian Government’s Water Infrastructure for Sustainable and Efficient Regions (WISER) initiative.
Two more WISER projects are set to begin next month in Tasmania:
- Replacing the Bothwell water-treatment plant and connecting to the Southern Highlands irrigation scheme.
- Replacing the Oatlands water-treatment plant to improve water quality and availability for the rural region of Oatlands.
A fourth WISER project in the state, the Cambridge-Clarence recycled water interconnector, is in the development stage.
The WISER initiative intends to future-proof the state’s water supply in the face of climate change, a growing population and greater demand. Regional communities will benefit from secure and reliable water sources.
The four projects are funded jointly, to the tune of $54.9 million.
Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said: “In our first term of government, the Albanese Government announced the WISER initiative to help provide safe and reliable water for regional and remote communities, and it’s great to see construction finished in Ellendale and shovels about to hit the ground in Bothwell and Oatlands.
“Water security is crucial for communities, and I’m very pleased that we’ve helped to deliver better resources for Tasmanians.”
