Cross-Derwent recycled water pipeline from Blackmans Bay to Arm End starts sinking into place
Recycled irrigation water will begin flowing across the Derwent as early as next year, with work now underway. Here’s why it’ll transform the peninsula.
Tasmania
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High-grade, recycled irrigation water will begin flowing across the Derwent as early as next year, with work underway to sink a 7km pipeline that promises to turn a parched South Arm peninsula green.
The $1.1m pipe, which will deliver up to 900 megalitres of Class A water each year from a Blackmans Bay treatment facility, is currently under construction in Margate, where 500m segments are being floated, bolted, and sunk to the seabed over a three-week period.
Made from high-density polyethylene, the 250mm pipe will be laid to a maximum depth of 26m by a team which includes local contractors Batchelor Construction Group, Tasaqua, and Total Dive Solutions.
South Arm Irrigation Scheme chief executive, Mary Massina, told the Mercury the project was critical to the peninsula’s economic future, providing greater opportunities to grow high-value crops, and helping irrigate the proposed Gellibrand Point Golf Course.
“South Arm is one of the driest areas in Tasmania with limited agricultural capacity, as it is in a rain shadow from kunanyi/Mount Wellington, and without access to natural fresh-water sources,” Ms Massina said.
“The South Arm Irrigation Scheme will be a real game-changer for the area.
“It will take one-third of the wastewater from the existing TasWater facility at Blackmans Bay, and rather than discharging it directly into the Derwent, will further treat and deliver up to 900 mega-litres of Class A water per year to the peninsula through the new pipeline.”
In March this year, Kingborough Council approved the scheme’s plans for a wastewater treatment plant at Tinderbox Rd, a decision which Ms Massina had said would allow the Gellibrand Point Golf Course to reach its full potential.
The irrigation scheme’s chief operating officer, Michael Kerschbaum, said the pipeline and golf course would create 150 direct and indirect jobs during their construction.
Once completed, the $18 million irrigation scheme would support another 100 ongoing jobs through the economic development generated by its water certainty, Mr Kerschbaum said.
“Currently, around 40 hectares of the peninsula is under agriculture, but the South Arm
Irrigation Scheme has the potential to increase this to 350 hectares,” he said.
“Based on the climate and soils, the most suitable options include high-value crops such as cherries, viticulture, and olives.”
All major South Arm landholders on the pipeline’s route had already signed agreements to purchase irrigation water, Mr Kerschbaum said.
The company said it expected to send its first recycled water through the 250mm pipe in the first half of 2025.
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