Environment Protection Authority asks Hydro to lower Lake Rosebery while clean up continues

Lake Rosebery will remain closed for two more weeks while the clean up crew undertakes trials to determine the best method for removing up to 4,500 litres of oil. The latest:

Lake Rosebery. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

Lake Rosebery will be lowered and remain closed for a further two weeks as clean up crews trial techniques to establish a cleaning regime.

The Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority has asked Hydro Tasmania to lower the level of the lake by 300mm for safer shoreline access.

Trials to determine the best clean-up methods for cleaning up the estimated 4,500L of old oil are underway at Mackintosh Gorge near Tullah.

Oil slick can be seen at Lake Rosebery on 24 January 2025. Picture: Darren Briggs

Tasmania’s environment protection authority CEO and director Wes Ford said the lake had now been entirely mapped and there was approximately 30.6 kilometres of shoreline exposed to oil, oil sheen or oil emulsion.

The clean-up crew now includes a dedicated oiled wildlife spotter on site full-time.

The EPA was notified of the spill by Hydro Tasmania on Monday January 13 and it was determined the spill came from historical infrastructure that was being used to store oil.

The lake has been declared a Prohibited Area by Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) and is off limits until 11:59pm on Friday 14 February 2025, unless cancelled sooner, and includes all waters of Lake Rosebery.

Oil on the shore of Lake Rosebery. Picture: Supplied

“Water and shoreline-based teams continue to be vigilant for oil impacted wildlife while undertaking operations, and a dedicated oiled wildlife spotter has been deployed to the site full-time,” said Mr Ford.

TasWater continues to test water quality at its Tullah Water Treatment Plant, which was shut down due to the spill.

TasWater incident controller Matt Jordan said multiple intake water samples taken from the site had not detected any contamination so far.

“Fortunately, our intake is approximately 26 metres below the surface and some distance from the shore, while the oil is floating on the surface of the water around the Shoreline,” he said.

Until the treatment plant can be restarted Tullah will continue to rely on water carted in to assist in filling the town’s reservoirs.

Originally published as Environment Protection Authority asks Hydro to lower Lake Rosebery while clean up continues