The City of Launceston Council called off further raking in light of the reports - which found the practice as carried out had been largely ineffective - with a likely return to dredging as a short-term solution instead.

But Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson says the Tamar Canal proposal could be an important infrastructure project to address the estuary's water quality issues, along with beautifying its western bank, if an assessment stacked up.

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Floated in 2016, the plan would see Hydro Tasmania pump water from Tailrace back through a canal to Home Basin, effectively returning historical levels of flow from that point.

"What the Tamar River needs is a long term sustainable solution to pollution and siltation," Mr Whish-Wilson said. "Not more federal money wasted on largely ineffective 'silt raking'."

With record low interest rates, he added the canal was the kind of project that should be "closely scrutinised" for funding.

Mr Whish-Wilson plans to lobby the Launceston Chamber of Commerce in support of a scoping proposal and raise the matter with relevant federal departments next week.

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A former chair of the Launceston Flood Authority this week suggested under more favourable conditions, raking could in fact be an effective solution.

The chamber has suggested disparate management of the estuary needed "clearer aligning".

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