The Mersey Forth Water Management Review

Hydro Tasmania has been generating electricity from the waterways of the Mersey and Forth River catchments since 1968. We have initiated a review of our water and land management activities in the catchments. The review will assess Hydro Tasmania’s current activities in light of their present impacts on social, environmental and economic conditions. The aim is to improve the sustainable management of resources managed by Hydro Tasmania.

The review process includes the following four stages:

Stage 1: Information Review (completed)

Available information on operational, environmental and social activities and issues in the Mersey and Forth River catchments was consolidated into the Mersey-Forth Water Management Review Report (PDF 20 MB).

Stage 2: Stakeholder Consultation (completed)

Stakeholder consultation commenced in November 2011 with a survey encouraging stakeholders to provide their values and issues associated with waterways influenced by Hydro Tasmania’s operations. Meetings and discussions with individuals and organisations were held. The stakeholder feedback was documented in a Stakeholder Consultation Report (PDF 13 MB) in June 2012.

Updates on the Stakeholder Consultation process were provided in stakeholder newsletters. Results from the stakeholder survey were summarised in Newsletter Issue 1 (PDF 0.6 MB). A synthesis of the Stage 2 process and the identification of the technical and social studies were provided in Newsletter Issue 2 (PDF 1.2 MB).

Stage 2 was concluded with a second stakeholder survey, circulated with the Stakeholder Consultation Report, asking for feedback on the consultation process and outcomes. The results of this survey were summarised in Newsletter Issue 3 (PDF 1.0 MB).

While the formal Stakeholder Consultation Stage is now completed stakeholder communication is not over and is a key component of the next Stage of the Mersey-Forth Water Management Review process. The majority of the technical and social studies will be undertaken in collaboration with stakeholders over the next one to three years depending on the complexity of the issues being addressed.

Stage 3: Technical and Social Studies (in progress)

Stage 3 commenced in July 2012. Fourteen technical and social studies (PDF 1.5 MB) were initiated to investigate the issues raised from Stage 2, and to assess mitigation opportunities and management options. These studies will be undertaken during 2012-2014. Regular updates on the status of these studies will be provided via newsletters and on this website. Newsletter issue 3 and newsletter issue 4 provide updates on some of the studies.

Stage 4: Program Development and Implementation (to be completed)

Program development and a forward plan of action on potential management solutions is planned for July 2013.

If you are still interested in providing feedback, or obtaining any information on the Mersey-Forth Water Management Review, please contact us on:
merseyforth@hydro.com.au or phone 1300 360 441.