DOCSLIB.ORG

8. Launceston Flood Authority

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
8. Launceston Flood Authority Submission to: PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS INQUIRY INTO GOVERNMENT OWNED ENERGY ENTITIES Launceston Flood Authority May 2016 This document was authored by the Launceston Flood Authority based on publicly available information as referenced within the document. The data presented was correct at the time of writing and the author provides no warranty of its ongoing accuracy. The document remains the property of the Launceston Flood Authority. It may be copied and reproduced only in its entirety for the purpose of promoting the aims of the document. Enquiries in regard to the document can be directed to: Launceston Flood Authority PO Box 396, Launceston, Tasmania 7250 Or by email to [email protected] Contents Foreword ................................................................................................................................................... iii Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Strategic Direction.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 River Health............................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Policy and Legislative Context ................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Environmental flows ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Sedimentation Management .................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Launceston and its Economy ................................................................................................................................................................... 4 River Management, Hydro Tasmania and Trevallyn Dam ........................................................................................................................... 4 Socio-economic Values .......................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Public Interest ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 1. The Opportunity ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 The Tamar River at Launceston ................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Dredging and Sediment Management ........................................................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Significance to the Regional Economy ........................................................................................................................................ 4 2. The Context ...................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 River Management ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Policy Context ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8 2.3 Alignment with Government Policy ............................................................................................................................................ 10 2.4 Legislative Context ................................................................................................................................................................... 11 3. Hydro Tasmania’s Strategic Direction ................................................................................................ 13 4. Impact on the Environment .............................................................................................................. 15 4.1 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................................................................... 15 4.2 Sediment Management ............................................................................................................................................................ 15 4.3 Environmental Flows ................................................................................................................................................................ 16 5. Stakeholder Comment ..................................................................................................................... 17 5.1 Consultations .......................................................................................................................................................................... 17 5.2 Key Government and Community Stakeholder Issues ................................................................................................................ 19 6. Socioeconomic Values .................................................................................................................... 21 6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. 21 6.2 Regional Industry Support and Development ............................................................................................................................ 21 6.3 Impact on the Community ........................................................................................................................................................ 23 7. Public Interest Issues ...................................................................................................................... 25 7.1 Summary of Public Interest Issues ............................................................................................................................................ 25 Launceston Flood Authority Submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Public Accounts’ Inquiry into Government Owned Energy Enterprises Page i This page intentionally left blank Launceston Flood Authority Submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Public Accounts’ Inquiry into Government Owned Energy Enterprises Page ii Foreword The Launceston Flood Authority took the decision to address this hearing as it offered an opportunity to raise the subject of competing water resources in an official Government forum. The LFA is not qualified to offer advice on BassLink, which is under consideration, but we draw attention to the danger of any energy policy, which relies on the assumption that allocations of water for electricity generation are somehow sacrosanct. In the case of the South Esk River, the outcomes have been disastrous and continue to be increasingly harmful. The LFA has a number of legislated responsibilities, which are designed to protect against a repeat of floods, such as in 1929, which claimed 22 lives and caused massive property loss. These duties include maintaining the flood levees and systems, keeping flood exits free of sediment and maintaining the amenity of the river. These are onerous legislated responsibilities and we cannot be at the mercy of occasional Trevallyn Dam spills to fulfill these duties. In that respect, a policy to export power generated from local water resources has been a problem, not a solution, as it has encouraged electricity production beyond Tasmania’s own needs. Exports of electricity to Victoria have been at the cost of Tasmanian reserves, as the Great Lake in particular, has for some time been drawn down to dangerously low levels. With declining heavy industry, domestic solar, lower consumption through technology improvements, gas power backup and growing wind generation, water should be more available to meet pressing environmental needs, as well as power generation. In Launceston, the twin concerns of chronic pollution and sedimentation in the Upper Reaches of the Tamar are inexorably related to the availability of strong water flows for efficient flushing. The remedy for both of these major concerns of pollution to 3rd World levels and sedimentation are the same and would enjoy in equal measure a return of the South Esk River to the Cataract Gorge. The shocking facts of over 2,000 raw sewage overspills
Load more

Recommended publications
  • L'ton Thematic History Report
    LAUNCESTON HERITAGE STUDY STAGE 1: THEMATIC HISTORY Prepared by Ian Terry & Nathalie Servant for Launceston City Council July 2002 © Launceston City Council Cover. Launceston in the mid nineteenth century (Sarah Ann Fogg, Launceston: Tamar Street Bridge area , Allport Library & Museum of Fine Arts, State Library of Tasmania). C O N T E N T S The Study Area ........................................................................................................................1 The Study .................................................................................................................................2 Authorship................................................................................................................................2 Methodology ............................................................................................................................2 Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................3 Abbreviations ...........................................................................................................................3 HISTORIC CONTEXT Introduction..............................................................................................................................4 1 Environmental Context .........................................................................................................5 2 Human Settlement.................................................................................................................6
    [Show full text]
  • Green Paper Survey Results Summary
    Green Paper Survey Results Summary Completed August 2015 Table of Contents Survey Demographic Summary .................................................................... 3 The Vision Statement ..................................................................................... 4 Issues from comments on the Vision Statement ................................................ 5 Comments on the Vision Statement .................................................................... 5 The Values ....................................................................................................... 9 Issues coming from comments on the values .................................................... 9 Comments about the values ................................................................................. 9 The Themes ................................................................................................... 12 Theme 1: Governance .................................................................................. 13 Issues from Governance comments .................................................................. 13 Governance comments ....................................................................................... 13 Theme 2: Environmental Management ....................................................... 16 Issues from environmental management comments ....................................... 17 Environmental Management comments ............................................................ 17 Theme 3: Access & Linkages .....................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Submission: Collier
    SUBMISSION to the TAMAR ESTUARY MANAGEMENT TASKFORCE PERSONAL PROFILE: Following many years of sailing on the River Tamar in 1992 my wife Linda and I sailed out of the River in our 10 metre steel ketch at the beginning of what turned out to be a 10 year voyage around the world returning in 2002 absolutely horrified to discover that the River Tamar we had sailed out of was not the same River we returned to. The Tamar’s upper reaches appeared to have rapidly silted up and at low tide appeared, and still do, absolutely disgusting. Though this was the most obvious and visual problem beguiling the Tamar’s upper reaches it was not long before we became aware that lurking in and below the muddy waters was a toxic contamination problem of enormous proportions, confirmed by numerous scientific reports over the years! There was, and is, no doubt the Tamar was seriously environmentally degraded and we have been campaigning ever since to have the situation properly addressed. RIVER DEGRADATION CAUSES:- Reduced river flows. High speed vessels causing river bank erosion. Inadequate, archaic combined sewage and stormwater infrastructure. Lack of clearly defined areas of management and responsibility for the Tamar estuary. RIVER FLOWS: In 1955 Trevallyn Dam and its associated power station were commissioned. Prior to this, under natural conditions, South Esk River flows through the Cataract Gorge in to the Tamar’s upper reaches were between 20 and 100 cubic metres per second (cumecs) for the majority of the time and had a flow of at least 5 cumecs for 95% of the time.
    [Show full text]
  • 11817, Cataract Gorge
    Tasmanian Heritage Register Datasheet 103 Macquarie Street (GPO Box 618) Hobart Tasmania 7001 Phone: 1300 850 332 (local call cost) Email: [email protected] Web: www.heritage.tas.gov.au Name: Cataract Gorge THR ID Number: 11817 Status: Provisionally Registered Municipality: Launceston City Council Tier: State Location Addresses Title References Property Id 64 GORGE RD, TREVALLYN 7250 TAS 120905/1 6585214 274 BRISBANE ST, WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 144179/1 6668554 , LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 74-90 BASIN RD, WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 243968/1 2838376 , LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 74-90 BASIN RD, WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 152533/1 2838376 74-90 BASIN RD, WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 2838376 64 GORGE RD, TREVALLYN 7250 TAS 120905/2 6585214 64 GORGE RD, TREVALLYN 7250 TAS 235401/1 6585214 64 GORGE RD, TREVALLYN 7250 TAS 167409/1 6585214 64 GORGE RD, TREVALLYN 7250 TAS 120827/1 6585214 64 GORGE RD, TREVALLYN 7250 TAS 235401/1 6585214 Caretaker's Cottage, Duchess Hut, Cataract Tree Hut, Cliff Grounds View from Eagle Eyrie Cataract Walkway Walkway 2013 DPIPWE 2013 DPIPWE 2013 DPIPWE 2013 DPIPWE 2013 Duchess Hut and Crows Nest, Viewing Toll Booth, Cataract Band Rotunda, Cliff Picnic Rock Area no.2 Walkway Grounds DPIPWE, 2013 DPIPWE, 2013 Setting: The Cataract Gorge Reserve (the Gorge) is a public park set in a dramatic natural amphitheatre to the west of the city centre of Launceston, in Tasmania’s north. Intersected by the South Esk River, the Gorge is surrounded by native bush and the residential suburbs of Trevallyn and West Launceston . Description: The overall Cataract Gorge precinct is an example of a Victorian pleasure ground with related features including walkways, shelters, lookouts and recreational facilities set amongst natural bushland and dramatic riverine scenery (see comparative analysis section).
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Review Report
    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Environmental Review document is the first of a series which comprehensively describe Hydro operations and provide an overview of related aquatic environmental issues in each of its major catchments. This document fulfils some key commitments of the Hydro’s Aquatic Environmental Policy. It will also assist the general public in understanding Hydro operations and issues in the South Esk – Great Lake catchment, as the Hydro commences its Water Management Review in this catchment area. The South Esk Basin is the largest water catchment in Tasmania, making up almost 15% of Tasmania’s land mass. The Basin is comprised of the catchments of the South Esk, Macquarie and Meander Rivers. Water from the Great Lake catchment, which lies on Tasmania’s Central Plateau, is diverted into the South Esk Basin for the purposes of hydro-electric power generation. The Poatina Power Scheme utilises water from the Great Lake catchment, Arthurs Lake (originally in the upper Macquarie River sub-catchment), and diversions of the upper Ouse River, the upper Liffey River and Westons Rivulet – upper Brumbys Creek. It consists of three main storages (Great Lake, Arthurs Lake and Lake Augusta), two power stations (Poatina and Tods Corner) and other water diversion and transfer infrastructure. Also associated with the Poatina Power Scheme is another storage, Woods Lake, the primary function of which is to store water for irrigation. The Poatina Power Scheme diverts between 620 and 730 Mm3 per year of Great Lake water from the Derwent catchment, via Poatina Power Station, into the South Esk catchment. The Trevallyn Power Scheme utilises water from the entire South Esk catchment, harnessing the South Esk, Macquarie and Meander Rivers, and re-using water from the Great Lake catchment discharged from Poatina Power Station.
    [Show full text]
  • Trevallyn Hydropower Development
    Pilot Assessment Trevallyn Hydropower Development Tasmania, Australia 4th April 2012 Client: Hydro Tasmania Project sponsor: Hydro Tasmania Lead assessor: Bernt Rydgren Co-assessors: Doug Smith, Jörg Hartmann Date: 04/04/2012 Project stage: Operation Project size: 96 MW Project type: Run-of-river The assessment team, clockwise from lower left: Simon Howard, Sustainability Specialist, IHA HQ; Bernt Rydgren, Senior Consultant, ÅF Infrastructure AB; Jörg Hartmann, Water Security Lead, WWF; and Douglas Smith, Sustainability Specialist, IHA Central Office. Centre: Helen Locher, Principal Consultant Sustainability, Hydro Tasmania, and Single Point of Contact for the assessment. Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary ........................................................................................... 1 2 Sustainability profile .......................................................................................... 3 3 The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol ................................... 4 3.1 Introduction to the Protocol ...................................................................................... 4 3.2 The Operation Assessment Tool ............................................................................. 4 3.3 Pilot Assessment ..................................................................................................... 5 4 Assessment Objectives ..................................................................................... 5 5 Project Description ...........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • THR#11976, Duck Reach
    Tasmanian Heritage Register Datasheet 103 Macquarie Street (GPO Box 618) Hobart Tasmania 7001 Phone: 1300 850 332 (local call cost) Email: [email protected] Web: www.heritage.tas.gov.au Name: Duck Reach Power Scheme THR ID Number: 11976 Status: Provisionally Registered Municipality: Launceston City Council Tier: State Location Addresses Title References Property Id 1-5 CORIN ST, TREVALLYN 7250 TAS 149077/1 6637475 1-5 CORIN ST, TREVALLYN 7250 TAS 149078/1 6637475 , TREVALLYN 7250 TAS N/A N/A CORIN ST, WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 60647/8 6637387 2 CORIN ST, WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 60647/6 2673831 4 CORIN ST, WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 60647/5 7525950 6 CORIN ST, WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 60647/4 7525969 8 CORIN ST, WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 60647/3 6637432 10-16 CORIN ST, WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 60647/2 2673866 10-16 CORIN ST, WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS 60647/1 2673866 , WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS N/A , WEST LAUNCESTON 7250 TAS N/A N/A REATTA RD, TREVALLYN 7250 TAS 142349/1 2081342 Duck Reach Power Weir and eastern Suspension bridge, Machine House Station channel northern pier ©DPIPWE 2011 © DPIPWE 2013 © DPIPWE 2013 © DPIPWE 2013 Power Station interior Penstock Intake structure Cottages including Chief Engineers' © DPIPWE 2013 © DPIPWE 2013 © DPIPWE 2013 Residence © DPIPWE 2010 Setting: The Duck Reach Power Scheme is situated on the South Esk River between Second and Third Basins , 3km west of the Launceston CBD. Historically, this section of the South Esk was subject to regular flooding although since construction of the Trevallyn Dam upstream this occurs less frequently .
    [Show full text]
  • Duck Reach Power Station
    NOMINATION OF DUCK REACH POWER STATION AS A HISTORIC ENGINEERING MARKER VOLUME 2 - APPENDICES Prepared by Anthony Lee Engineering Heritage Tasmania Engineers Australia September 2005 Duck Reach Power Station Historic Engineering Marker CONTENTS OF VOLUME 2 Page BIOGRAPHIES William CORIN...................................................................................... 2 Charles St John DAVID ....................................................................... 4 Professor William Charles KERNOT .................................................. 5 Kynaston Noel Lapthrop MURRAY..................................................... 6 TECHNICAL PAPERS K L Murray, 1897 "Electric Lighting of Launceston, Tasmania", (with a description of the civil works by C St John David) Victorian Institute of Engineers........................................................ 10 Discussion 1 on Murray's paper................................................. 23 Discussion 2 on Murray's paper................................................. 25 Martinek A & Lauri A, 1906 "Launceston Hydraulic Power- Station" Abstract, Electrotechnische Zeitschrift, Berlin ................ 35 Henry Button, 1909 "Electric Lighting". Extract from Flotsam & Jetsam, The Examiner 1993............................................ 36 Corin, William, 1910 "Efficiency Tests of a Hydro-electric Plant, with Observations upon the Water-Power of Tasmania" Trans ICE Vol CLXXX111 1910/11 Part 1 (abridged) ....................... 39 Garvie, Robert, 1962 "The Beginnings". Extract from A Million
    [Show full text]
  • Upper Lake River
    South Esk – Great Lake Water Management Review Scientific Report on Cataract Gorge August 2003 Prepared by Hydro Tasmania Research into the environmental flow requirements for Cataract Gorge and the habitat requirements and distribution of Beddomeia launcestonensis was conducted by Freshwater Systems Pty Ltd. Funding for this project was received from the Natural Heritage Trust. Table of Contents 1. Assessment of Issues and Status .........................................................1 2. Formulation of Study Objectives .........................................................12 3. Data Collection and Analysis...............................................................13 4. Environmental Management Options for Cataract Gorge....................51 Scientific Report on Cataract Gorge August 2003 CATARACT GORGE 1. ASSESSMENT OF ISSUES AND STATUS Background Through the Environmental Review and Community Consultation processes of the Water Management Review for the South Esk – Great Lake catchment, a number of issues were identified for Cataract Gorge. The principal issues were: low flow in the Gorge during the summer when the dam is not spilling. This impacts on recreational use and visual aesthetics, as well as environmental health and water quality; elevated nutrient concentrations in the South Esk River that may encourage excessive growth of green algae and potentially toxic blue-green algae; increased bacterial levels in the Gorge that result in closure of the waterway for recreational use (swimming); and the presence of a listed threatened species (Beddomeia launcestonensis), which may be impacted by present water management in the Gorge. This report provides information on these issues as well as the results of studies that were undertaken to identify appropriate options to manage these issues. The options that were subsequently identified were then costed and reviewed as part of a cost-benefit analysis covering the whole of the South Esk – Great Lake catchment.
    [Show full text]