South Arm pipeline complete

THE South Arm Irrigation Scheme has reached a milestone with the completion of a $2.8 million, 7km pipeline crossing the River Derwent near Hobart.

Spanning from Blackmans Bay to Algona Street at South Arm, the pipeline will transport up to 900 megalitres of Class A recycled water per year.

Approximately two-thirds of this water will support local agriculture and community needs, while the remainder will be used to irrigate the soon to commence Arm End golf course.

The construction involved floating pipeline into position in 500-metre segments from the Margate staging area, before being sunk and welded together over a challenging five-week construction period.

South Arm Irrigations Scheme Chief Executive Officer Mary Massina said “the arrival of the pipeline will mean for the first time since European settlement, the farming community, firefighters and the broader community will have access to Class A recycled water.”

The scheme also aims to increase agricultural capacity from 40 to 350 hectares. 

Ms Massina said the 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.

“Thes scheme will be a 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 River, will further treat and deliver up to 900 mega-litres of  “Class A” water per year to the Peninsula through the new pipeline,” Ms Massina said.

By treating one-third of wastewater from TasWater’s Blackmans Bay facility for reuse, the scheme is expected to create 150 jobs during construction and at least 100 long-term positions through enhanced economic development.

It is anticipated that the first drops of treated Class A recycled water from our Blackmans Bay water treatment facility will cross the river in the first half of 2025.