Legislative Council Wednesday  28 October, 2020

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT 

With regard to the answers to my questions without notice of the week of 14 October regarding the Waratah Reservoir:

1. Please provide:

a. Evidence that permits were granted for TasWater to commence works in 2017 pursuant to the Water Management Act 1999 (the Act);

b. Details of who issued the permits;

c. Why was the public not advised of these works prior to the commencement; and

d. Why wasn’t the public given the opportunity to respond within 2 weeks as provided for under the Act?

ANSWER:

a. Permits were not required for the works completed by TasWater in 2017 as these were undertaken under Section 165G of the Water Management Act 1999 (the Act), which covers the safe operation of Dams.
TasWater identified a leak in the left abutment of the dam wall (piping) and in accordance with Section 165G of the Act, TasWater undertook emergency work to address the safety risk. In accordance with Sectionn165I of the Act TasWater notified the Dam Safety Regulator of the remedial actions undertaken.

b. Permits to undertake emergency works are not required under Section 165G.

c. There are no provisions for public consultation under Section 165G.

d. The two-week representation provision does not apply to works undertaken under the emergency provisions of the Act.