TasWater says recent replacement of ageing water mains in Hobart CBD shows need for price hikes

Tasmania’s water and sewage utility says the recent replacement of World War II-era mains in the Hobart CBD has highlighted the need for the organisation to jack up water prices.

TasWater crews upgrade ageing water mains on Liverpool and Murray streets in Hobart. Picture: Supplied

The recent replacement of two 80-year-old water mains in the Hobart CBD has highlighted the need for TasWater to implement controversial proposed price hikes to fund crucial upgrades, the state’s water and sewage utility says.

The ageing pipework – installed on Liverpool and Murray streets during the Second World War – wreaked havoc on nearby businesses when it burst in late 2024 and in January this year, flooding properties, damaging roads, and disrupting traffic.

TasWater crews upgrade ageing water mains on Liverpool and Murray streets in Hobart. Picture: Supplied

TasWater crews subsequently replaced a 250-metre section of a main on Liverpool St between Harrington and Murray streets, as well as 180 metres on Murray St between Collins and Liverpool streets.

TasWater general manager project delivery, Tony Willmott, said “much” of the water and sewage infrastructure in the CBD dated back “generations”.

“We’d like to thank the public and nearby businesses for their patience during these important works. Where possible, work was undertaken by our hardworking crews after hours – to minimise the impact on everyone involved,” he said.

Mr Willmott said the works showed that TasWater needed to hike annual water prices by 8.8 per cent so the organisation could fund “critical upgrades” and “avoid higher costs in the future”.

TasWater General Manager Project Delivery Tony Willmott.

“We need long-term solutions, not short-term fixes, and if we don’t do it now, we risk sleepwalking into a crisis that will cost Tasmanians hundreds of millions of dollars more than it should,” he said.

The Tasmanian Economic Regulator is currently assessing TasWater’s fifth Price and Service Plan Proposal.

Under the plan, which would slug customers with a nearly 40 per cent price hike over four years, the utility is pledging to spend $1.7bn on infrastructure between 2026 and 2030.

Tasmanian Council of Social Service chief executive Adrienne Picone has labelled the proposed price increase excessive, saying those on low incomes were “already making enormous sacrifices to afford their household bills”.

Originally published as TasWater says recent replacement of ageing water mains in Hobart CBD shows need for price hikes