Development Application reveals urgent need for Maria Island upgrades
As visitors flock to Maria Island year on year, it’s created pressure on the infrastructure of the popular tourist destination, pressure that could come with “unacceptable” risks.
Tasmania
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Critical upgrades are needed to improve infrastructure on Maria Island as visitors continue to flock to the destination, creating an “unacceptable” risk to the environment and public health.
The situation on the island is detailed in a recently advertised development application with the Glamorgan Spring Bay for a number of upgrades, to address some of the infrastructure needs.
The application reveals sewerage, water and electricity infrastructure on the island is outdated as it was “installed before current infrastructure standards”.
“Most of the Island’s limited services infrastructure is reaching the end of its service life and must be replaced,” the plans say.
“Recent failures and overloading have demonstrated the island’s existing services infrastructure is inadequate to meet current and future demand, and presents an unacceptable risk to public health and environmental harm if not upgraded.”
The plans also says the infrastructure was installed when visitor numbers were significantly lower.
“Maria Island is a popular destination for Tasmanians, and interstate and overseas visitors,” the plans said.
“The number of visitors to the Island has significantly increased in recent years, with further increases anticipated by PWS in the next decade.
“The increasing number of visitors has placed significant pressure on the Island’s ageing water, sewerage, and electricity services infrastructure.”
The plans lodged with the council includes the constructing a new wastewater treatment plant, decommissioning the current plant, connecting water, electricity and sewerage services to most site buildings, along with other upgrades and maintenance.
The new plant is proposed to be located near Darlington.
The upgrades form stage three of the Maria Island rediscovered project, which began in 2019.
A solar farm is also proposed as part of stage three.
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