Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Water spokesperson
The Greens welcome the news TasWater have committed to fixing the water supply to all 24 towns currently on "do not consume" and "boil water" alerts within two years. It is the core business of water corporations to deliver safe drinking water to the people.
Tasmanians need to be able to turn on the tap and know the water coming out is safe to drink.
For residents of towns, like Pioneer and Avoca, who have been dogged with water quality issues for years, this will come as a great relief.
TasWater, and the Greens, have been calling for the State Government to step up for some time. It is galling for Minister Gutwein to criticise councils for the very same inaction.
The Hodgman Government have forced TasWater to borrow large sums of money to solve ongoing issues, contributing no finance or leadership.
Two years is still a long time to wait for many in the 24 towns who are unable to drink their water. We sincerely hope the Liberals will consider temporary relief for those towns, while TasWater undertakes the works.
We hope TasWater and the State Government will be able to work together and ensure the ailing water and sewerage infrastructure in centres, like Launceston, don't miss out. The recent floods once again highlighted the dire need for those works to be done.