And sewerage debate

benefit our customers. TasWater has always stated that these projects should not be funded by TasWater customers.

The Government then undertook multiple visits to small communities with ministers from the Premier down stating sewerage treatment plants were noncompliant.

Yes, many are not compliant, but as the Government fully understands, but remains silent on, the way compliance is measured is unreliable. And further, compliance and environmental damage are not the same thing. The Environment Protection Authority has not issued TasWater with a single environment infringement notice relating to any outfall from sewerage treatment plants over the past two years.

Then came the Government’s ill-informed criticism on the implementation of trade waste requirements.

Trade waste is the single most important contributor to a lack of compliance of sewerage treatment plants. TasWater is meeting the legal obligations that are enforced by government. The approach and standards adopted by TasWater are more flexible than the approach adopted in many other states.

From the Government’s media comments on this issue, it is clear that it has limited understanding of trade waste management requirements.

Under the draft legislation now before parliament, the new-look TasWater will not be obliged to be operated and managed in a financially sustainable manner.

It will be able to run at a loss, and further, the Government plan will see TasWater incur an extra and unnecessary $600 million in debt, borrowings that will have to be repaid by Tasmanian consumers and taxpayers. Does this represent sensible intergenerational planning?

Water and sewerage reform is the single largest microeconomic reform in Tasmania over the past 25 years. It should be asked why the Government is seeking to turn it upside down with no sound reason at all. Miles Hampton is a Tasmanian business leader and experienced company director. He has been chairman of TasWater since its inception on July 1, 2013.