The Hodgman Government welcomes the decision by TasWater’s Board to take up the Government’s suggestion and do more to fix the problem of the State’s ageing water and sewerage system.
This is a very good announcement by TasWater and I congratulate the Chairman, Miles Hampton, and his board on their decision. However, it will leave many Tasmanians wondering why local government, as the owners of TasWater, have failed to act until now.
The actions by the Board of TasWater, once again demonstrate why Tasmanians and their communities remain frustrated with years of inaction by local government in relation to the vital needs of this essential community infrastructure.
The Board has clearly demonstrated leadership on this issue, but unfortunately their local government owners appear reluctant to support this very sensible and long overdue decision.
What is very concerning is that the local government owners, by their comments, appear to have little understanding of the need identified by their own corporation to fund and build 21st century water and sewerage infrastructure.