Water trial for beach

Stormwater to be treated

STORMWATER during nonrain events will be diverted away from Blackmans Bay in an effort to reduce pollution on the beach.

Kingborough Council and TasWater have teamed up to trial diverting low-flow water in the stormwater network into sewerage pipes, where it will go through the normal treatment process.

The trial is expected to be installed later this year and will be carried out in the Illawarra Rd catchment area in Blackmans Bay.

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said the trial might be extended to adjacent catchments in Blackmans Bay and Kingston Beach.

The council has traced the poor water quality at the southern end of Blackmans Bay Beach last summer to plumbing on a handful of private properties and tree roots growing into stormwater pipes.

Councillor Winter said improving water quality was Kingborough’s highest priority and he was pleased a solution had been identified.

“We’re hoping it will have an immediate, positive impact on the work we’ve already done over the past six months to eliminate illegal connections and remove obstructions from the network,” he said.

“We have dedicated nearly $1 million for stormwater projects around Blackmans Bay next year which includes the appointment of an additional stormwater officer.

“This officer will be dedicated to resolving the recreational water quality issues that have – at least in part – been caused by historic stormwater contamination,” Cr Winter said.

In the trial, during rain and storm events the water flow would be strong enough to bypass the diversion and be flushed further into the River Derwent away from beaches.

Cr Winter said the measures would also help reduce the number of seagulls flocking to the beach.

TasWater chief executive Michael Brewster said the organisation would continue to work with Kingborough to improve water quality at Blackmans Bay Beach.

“TasWater has also carried out an extensive investigation of the sewer network in the local area with significant work already contributing to improved outcomes,” he said.

The Environment Protection Authority has committed to look at testing options to see if the source of faecal bacteria pollution in the lower Derwent could be identified.

In March, 10 out of 18 beaches in Greater Hobart recorded high contamination levels following rain.