Water reform

In 2006, the State Government announced it would review and reform Tasmania's water and sewerage industry to address:

  • service issues
  • poor asset management
  • pricing and revenue issues
  • the need for significant capital expenditure to improve intrastructure.

The review resulted in four new corporations which began operatison on 1 July 2009:

  • Southern Water – providing water and wastewater services in the south of the state
  • Ben Lomond Water – providing water and wastewater services in the north of the state
  • Cradle Mountain Water – providing water and wastewater services in the north-west of the state
  • Onstream – providing common services to these corporations.
  • 1 July 2009, four new corporations took over the management of the Tasmanian water and sewerage sector.

All of Tasmania’s reticulated towns – from Flinders Island to the Huon Valley – are now cared for by their new local water corporation.

Changes include:

  • a separate water and sewerage bill (as many Tasmanians pay for their water and sewerage through their council rates)
  • a different phone number to report faults, query bills or make enquiries
  • while the same people are likely to be servicing their area, they will be employed by one of the new corporations.