Pioneer Tasmania: TasWater connects town more than 10 years after drinking water ruled unsafe

Years after lead contamination was discovered in a remote Tasmanian hamlet’s drinking water, a $5m pipeline has finally been completed. The saga has left a bitter taste.

Pioneer resident Tim Slade. Picture: Supplied

More than a decade after lead contamination was discovered in a remote Tasmanian hamlet’s drinking water, a $5m pipeline has finally been completed.

It was way back in 2012 that the fewer than 100 residents of Pioneer, in the state’s North-East, were told their drinking water was unsafe due to heavy metal contamination 50 times higher than recommended guidelines, according to Macquarie University researchers.

A number of stopgap solutions were trialled by TasWater, including water tanks fed from roof gutter run-off, but it subsequently emerged that a dozen homes had lead-based paint on their rooves and that water was also contaminated.

A 2021 Legislative Council inquiry into TasWater’s operations found that the utility “did not act in a timely manner in addressing the issue of providing safe drinking water to Pioneer residents,” but that it “appeared” to be addressing the issue.

Resident Tim Slade, a local of more than 15 years, has led the fight for the township, writing dozens of articles on the matter.

“Everyone at he very least would be relieved that after a decade and eight months [since the contamination was first know], they are no longer at risk from exposure to heavy metals at the hands of TasWater,” he said.

Mr Slade, who described the saga as a “decade-long crisis,” said he was offended more residents weren’t invited to a ribbon-cutting event at Pioneer Memorial Hall earlier this week – it’s understood two were invited.

“On Tuesday, TasWater snuck into Pioneer, went to our town hall [Pioneer Memorial Hall] and put out a press release,” he said.

“No residents were invited or even knew it was happening. They did it in our town hall and we’re all sitting by our fires not knowing it’s going on.”

The township’s new $5m pipeline connects Pioneer to TasWater’s extended Ringarooma Valley Water Scheme, which already services other towns in the region.

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As well as extending the water main from Winnaleah, a brand-new reticulated network has been installed through Pioneer by TasWater, with the water being given the tick of approval after undergoing rigorous testing, the utility said in a statement.

TasWater acting chief executive Tony Willmott said that his organisation recognised the length of time it had taken to deliver a fix.

“We recognise the planning and construction process for this project has at times been frustrating for the township and we want to thank them for their patience, as we worked on getting the solution right and fit for purpose,” Mr Willmott said.

“[Tuesday’s] event was specifically for media to mark the completion of the Pioneer Water Supply Project.

“We are planning a community event for later this year when the weather is a little warmer, where we hope to get the township of Pioneer and the people involved in making this project happen together to celebrate the milestone.”

Dorset Mayor Greg Howard said council was “very satisfied” with the scheme’s completion, albeit after “a rather long process”.