Arm End Golf Course: South Arm Irrigation Scheme progresses, developers spruik golf course benefits

A pipeline set to bring recycled water to South Arm has marked a key construction milestone as the proponents spruik how the development would help facilitate a long-awaited golf course.

The development of the South Arm Irrigation Scheme is progressing and will help facilitate the proposed Arm End Golf Course. Pictured are contractors Mitchell Smith and Ash Brooks, who are working on building a water treatment plant at Blackmans Bay as part of the pipeline development.

A seven-kilometre pipeline set to bring recycled water to the South Arm Peninsula from Blackmans Bay has marked a key construction milestone as the proponents spruik how the development would help facilitate a long-awaited golf course.

The South Arm Irrigation Scheme (SAIS) pipeline has already been placed along the floor of the River Derwent and is set to connect Hobart’s Eastern and Western shores.

Construction of a water treatment plant at Blackmans Bay began two weeks ago, while future works will include a pump station, a 47 megalitre dam, and a further seven-kilometre north-south pipeline through South Arm and Opossum Bay that will deliver water to the proposed Arm End Golf Course by October.

A new recycled water pipeline is set to facilitate the development of Tasmania’s first links-style golf course.

SAIS has so far spent $15.71m on the scheme and says the wastewater plant alone will be capable of processing 2.6 megalitres of wastewater per day, which would normally be discharged into the Derwent.

The plant will be able to deliver about 900 megalitres of water to users in South Arm each year.

The pipeline is being pitched as a key water supply for irrigation, agriculture, and firefighting on the South Arm Peninsula.

It is approved to use the highest grade of recycled water, Class A, for firefighting and irrigation.

SAIS is hopeful regulatory authorities will consider approving other future uses for the Class A water, such as toilet flushing, clothes washing, garden watering, and general outdoor uses such as car washing.

SAIS director Luke Curtain said the chief benefit of the scheme was the opportunity it would create for South Arm landowners.

“We have seen what water has done for areas like the Coal River Valley which was largely a sheep grazing area but has been transformed. We are obviously not speaking about the same scale at South Arm, but it allows us to consider opportunities,” he said.

Operator Mitchell Smith and site manager Ash Brooks at the Blackmans Bay water treatment plant construction site. Part of the new recycled water pipeline to connect Blackmans Bay to South Arm. Picture: Supplied

One of the primary selling points of the SAIS is its facilitation of the planned golf course at Arm End, located on Crown land leased by Mary Ann’s Island Pty Ltd.

Designed by OCM, Arm End has been billed as the first golf links-style course in Tasmania.

MAI has approval to establish and run the golf course and associated infrastructure within the reserve and has spent $6.77m on the development to date.

The Aboriginal community has been highly critical of the golf course plans, accusing MAI of running roughshod over cultural heritage in the area.

But the developer says it has gone through a number of designs for the project in order to avoid Aboriginal heritage sites.

MAI director Justin Hetrel said growth in golf tourism created a “significant opportunity” in Tasmania.

“The premium [Arm End] golf course positions Tasmania on the global map, attracting international visitors and boosting revenue for the state,” he said.

Originally published as Arm End Golf Course: South Arm Irrigation Scheme progresses, developers spruik golf course benefits