Tick for dam pipeline plan
A PIPELINE linking a dam at Buckland to planned developments at Triabunna has been approved by the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council.
It is another step in the council’s plan to build a 3000 megalitre dam — paid for with a $4.5 million Treasury loan — primarily to supply Tassal’s Okehampton Bay fish farm development.
The dam would also supply the Solis golf course development, TasWater and farmers.
Work on the dam is yet to begin with the council waiting on final water licence approval.
The council received nearly 30 representations from community members about the pipeline plan, including concerns about the cost of the dam and the lack of an independent business case.
It was determined that many of the representations were not relevant to planning considerations, however, some issues raised were acted on.
Glamorgan Spring Bay Mayor Michael Kent said councillors had looked closely at the representations before voting.
The current business case for the dam will have to return to council for final approval once a water licence is approved, which Councillor Kent said could be as early as next month.
“If the Buckland dam doesn’t make the distance then of course the pipes won’t be required, it’s as simple as that,” Cr Kent said.
A second application from Tassal to link the council’s pipeline between Louisville Point and Okehampton Bay was also approved, with 35 representations lodged.
In January, the Mercury made a Right to Information application for all information related to TasWater’s decision-making process in relation to the dam, after a leaked briefing note showed the organisation had internal concerns about the project before publicly supporting it.
A second internal briefing note provided to TasWater chief executive Mike Brewster — a month before he wrote to Glamorgan Spring Bay general manager David Metcalf to support the proposal in December — was exempted from release.
The Mercury has asked for a review of that decision.
TasWater has been promised access to 200ML of water from the dam for free.