Macquarie Point Hobart sewer line diversion is still in design phase

There’s a political stink over the diversion of the Hobart sewer main at Macquarie Point — the site of the proposed controversial AFL stadium. Find out what’s happening >>

Sewage treatment plant and logs at Macquarie Point. Picture: Chris Kidd

SLOW progress on the relocation of Hobart’s sewer main has prompted Labor to raise questions around what is happening at Macquarie Point.

In February 2021 engineering firm Johnstone McGee and Gandy was awarded a $77,335 contract for the design and production of construction tender documentation for the diversion of the 420m Hobart main sewer, which passes through the Macquarie Point Development Corporation site.

The diversion of the sewer is crucial for the decommissioning and relocation of the site’s wastewater treatment plant.

It’s also needed before any major development to occur at Macquarie Point, which is now earmarked for a new $715m stadium.

In August last year BlackCap construction was awarded a $4.5m tender to divert the sewer main.

Work was expected to take seven months.

A diagram of the proposed realignment of the Hobart sewer main through Macquarie Point, runs through the site of the proposed Hobart stadium

However the Macquarie Point Development Corporation has confirmed design details are still being finalised.

“There are a number of important design and functional considerations, including the relatively shallow depth of the pipe, and connections to sewer infrastructure. We are currently finalising the design details and specifications for these works, which will loosely follow the boundary of the site,” a spokeswoman said.

“We anticipate commencing works later this year. There are currently active remediation works in the south-east corner of the site, which will be completed ahead of the sewer main realignment.”

Labor's Dean Winter speaks to the media at Macquarie Point on Monday, October 17, 2022..

Shadow Minister for Economic Development Dean Winter questioned why design details were still being ironed out when the design tender was awarded two years ago and earthworks were currently taking place.

“Something smells about this sewer tender, and the government has a lot of explaining to do.

Why hasn’t this work commenced yet? Is it because you can’t build a sewer line under a stadium? What’s actually happening if the contractor isn’t doing what they’ve been contracted to do? These delays show just how much of a mess the Liberals’ plan to build a stadium at Mac Point is in,” Mr Winter said.

Minister for Energy and Renewables Guy Barnett speaks to the media at Geilston Bay on Monday, October 17, 2022.

Minister for State Development, Construction and Housing Minister Guy Barnett said Mr Winter was spreading misinformation about the Macquarie Point.

“The MCDC has provided an update on this project and explained that the new pipes will follow the boundary of the site,” Mr Barnett said.

“Unfortunately Mr Winter fails to appreciate that this project is required regardless of what is built on the site.’’

A spokeswoman for TasWater said the timeline for the wastewater treatment plant relocation remained unchanged, with the plant to cease operation in the second half of 2025.