Poo spill caused by poor infrastructure at Coles Bay, says Federal Group

Two groups are at loggerheads over a sewerage system at a popular Tasmanian tourist destination, with claims children are swimming in faeces-contaminated water. DETAILS >>

Children are frolicking in faeces-contaminated water due to a lack of a proper sewerage system, a Coles Bay group says.

Freycinet Association Inc president Liz Swain is an ardent advocate for a reticulated sewerage system in Coles Bay, which currently has none.

The Freycinet Association is at loggerheads with the Freycinet Action Network, a group that vehemently opposes proposals for a mains sewerage connection for the region.

Ms Swain claimed the action network was a “fringe green network” that was not representative of Coles Bay businesses and the community.

She said the current set-up of personal septic systems was leading to human waste spilling into the beaches and waterways during heavy rain.

She pointed to a TasWater study into Coles Bay and Swanwick which found large breakouts of entercocci, a bacteria which lives in human intestines.

Readers weather picture. Coles Bay. Picture: Linda Gaskell

Ms Swain said the Association’s own samplings found that Muirs Beach had entercocci levels 128 times above the acceptable levels in 2020 and 2021, the worst in the area.

“Currently human sewage flows over Muirs Beach after high rainfall and children are often seen playing in this water,” Ms Swain said.

“The Tasmanian Government’s strategy is to double the visitor numbers to the Freycinet National Park, and this will exacerbate the sewage outflow issues.

“It may also destroy Tasmania’s tourism reputation and Freycinet’s position as the most visited tourism region on the east coast of Tasmania, unless this issue is urgently addressed.”

However Freycinet Action Network convener Sophie Underwood said she believed bringing in a reticulated sewerage system would bring environmental harm in the long term.

“There is significant concern that the introduction of reticulated sewage at Freycinet will lead to net environmental harm as it will remove a significant barrier to growth and development of the Freycinet Peninsula,” Ms Underwood said.

“Reticulated sewage would most likely lead to intensification and expansion of development, undermining Freycinet as a pristine destination and impacting the amenity for residents and shack owners.”

TasWater have previously expressed reluctance to build a reticulated network in Coles Bay, which they estimate would cost around $30 million to $60 million to build.

A TasWater spokesperson said they would need sufficient community support to justify the expense.

“TasWater is supportive of the best possible outcome for the community,” the spokesperson said.

“A reticulated system for Coles Bay is one option and would require significant capital investment and the support of the community.”

‘Madness’: Cause of poo spill at renowned tourist spot revealed

Developers insist a chronic lack of infrastructure is what led to large volumes of semi-treated sewage water gushing into the environment in Coles Bay.

Federal Group says the incident happened last October after heavy rain overloaded the off-site wastewater dam for their Saffire Freycinet luxury resort.

Coles Bay lacks a reticulated sewer system, meaning that homes and businesses rely on their own septic tanks and wastewater systems to dispose of human waste.

Federal Group executive general manager Daniel Hanna said these local sewerage systems were unable to cope with growing demand and unprecedented weather.

Dr Hanna said the region’s lack of a proper sewerage system “threatened” its reputation as a pristine tourism destination.

“We are taking steps to bolster our facilities, but ideally, we’d like to see Coles Bay connected to a mains system, as it’s the only real, long-term solution,” Dr Hanna said.

“This problem isn’t going away and, in fact, is likely to get worse as the area grows in popularity.”

Federal Group executive general manager Daniel Hanna. Picture: PATRICK GEE

During the three weeks leading up to the overflow, the company carted 1.3 million litres of wastewater to nearby facilities until they too reached full capacity.

Engineers warned the dam’s structural integrity was at risk from the excessive rainfall, and with approval from the EPA they released water into the environment.

Warning signs were placed at Salt Water Creek to warn people about health and environmental risks.

Freycinet Action Network convener Sophie Underwood said Federal Group had nobody to blame for the spillage but themselves.

“Federal Group just needs to upgrade their infrastructure,” Ms Underwood said.

“They want someone to fix their own infrastructure issues and want the community to pay, but they need to upgrade their own infrastructure.”

Ms Underwood is a long-time opponent of a reticulated sewerage system for Coles Bay on the grounds it would lead to intensification of development and net environmental harm from over-tourism.

Sophie Underwood. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

She belongs to a group of residents who support on-site wastewater systems instead of a mains sewerage system.

However Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Michael Bailey said it was “madness” that such a renowned tourist spot did not have a basic sewerage system.

“It’s such a shame that such a sensible decision couldn’t go ahead for a waste treatment plan for a community,” Mr Bailey said.

“This is an area of amazing natural beauty and national acclaim, but here we have multiple dwellings connected to septic tanks - it’s just extraordinary.”

Previous outbreaks of faecal contamination at Freycinet have been linked to overflowing septic tanks by TasWater.

The Mercury reached out to TasWater for comment.

[e-mail]

Originally published as Poo spill caused by poor infrastructure at Coles Bay, says Federal Group