“Over 27 million litres of under-treated sewage was dumped above Launceston’s key tourist destination, Cataract Gorge, putting locals and over 400,000 tourists at risk of exposure to harmful pathogens and toxins”, says Lucy Tremain, Freshwater Campaigner at Environment Tasmania 

Key information

● TasWater released more than 47 billion litres (47,249,700,000) of wastewater into Tasmania’s waterways in 2024-2025. Over 600 million litres (635,793,000) was under-treated sewage, released during bypass events. ● During a bypass event, sewage will skip ‘secondary treatment’ which is a critical step to ensure it is safe before being released.

● Under-treated sewage can contain pathogens, nutrients and other contaminants from industrial waste that pose a risk to human health.

● Prospect Vale STP released 27,580,000 litres of under-treated sewage which flowed into Cataract Gorge

● Cameron Bay STP discharged 36,026,000 litres of under-treated sewage, clouding the waters around the iconic MONA building.

● Ti Tree Bend STP released over 338,980,000 litres of under-treated sewage directly into the Tamar River  

● 9 out of 10 sewage treatment plants (STPs) are operating in breach of their environmental protection notices.

In 2024-25, 100 out of 110 facilities were non-compliant. Environment Tasmania has launched ‘Map the Crap’ and a petition, calling on Health Minister, Bridget Archer, to champion the health of all Tasmanians and work to ensure all sewage treatment plants are fitted with ‘real-time monitoring’ equipment, which can alert the public to the latest bypass sewage events. This will help prevent Tasmanians from coming into contact with hazardous, under-treated sewage.

Further comments Lucy Tremain, Freshwater Campaigner at Environment Tasmania says:

“The Tasmanian Government is failing to inform people about hazardous sewage pollution events. Environment Tasmania believes all Tasmanians have the right to make informed decisions about their health, and so has launched an interactive map highlighting the scale of this sewage pollution crisis and making information about these risks easily accessible.”  

“The Tasmanian Government has already committed $20 million towards upgrading the Macquarie Point sewage treatment plant, at a fraction of this cost they could ensure all Tasmanians are safeguarded from under-treated sewage pollution, by funding the roll-out of real-time monitoring.” “Under-treated sewage from bypass events poses a real risk to human health, while also devastating Tasmania’s precious waterways. All Tasmanians have the right to make informed decisions about their health, including if they are being exposed to this under-treated sewage.”  

All comments attributed to Lucy Tremain Freshwater Campaigner Environment Tasmania  [email protected]  0480 263 258