The TEMT was established as part of the Launceston City Deal and given the task to oversee the development of a River Health Action Plan for the Tamar River.

Representatives will comes from councils along the estuary, as well as the flood authority and NRM North, with treasurer Peter Gutwein writing to the various organisations asking for taskforce nominations. 

“Its first priority [will] be recommending the preferred solution to fix the problem of raw sewerage flowing into the Tamar during high rainfall events,” Mr Gutwein said.

Two million dollars has been earmarked for the taskforce, jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and the group will be chaired by Infrastructure Tasmania chief Allan Garcia. 

Related Stories:

“It is expected that the taskforce will liaise closely with the Hydro and Tas Irrigation as well as with Taswater, the TFGA and the broader community,” Mr Gutwein said.

The City Deal states that the TEMT’s plan will build on the 2015 Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers (TEER) Water Quality Improvement Plan.

In a letter to the City of Launceston, asking for a representative, Mr Gutwein said it was expected the taskforce would report its view of how to best mitigate the effect of Launceston’s combined sewerage and storm water system by the end of 2017. 

Aldermen will discuss a nomination at Monday’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee meeting, with the decision to be forwarded to the council for adoption.