Lake Gairdner - lake level change
Lake Gairdner water levels will be temporarily lowered in advance of planned outage works at Wilmot Power Station. From Wednesday 14 January 2026, water levels will begin to be gradually drawn down to support important maintenance activities. This change may be noticeable to people using or visiting the lake. Key points: o Water level drawdown will commence from 9 am on Wednesday 14 January 2026 and be lowered gradually over several days.o The lake will remain accessible; however, water levels will be lower than usual so please exercise caution. o The lake will refill naturally over subsequent weeks.We appreciate your understanding while these important works are carried out.
Arthurs Flume - road closure for maintenance work
From mid-January to 1 May 2026, we’ll be undertaking maintenance works along Arthurs Flume. During this time, the road between Tods Corner and Arthurs Lake will be closed to all users, including walkers, bikers and horse riders. You may also encounter more traffic along Highlands Lake and Tods Corner roads. Thank you for your patience. If you’d like to know more about what’s happening, please email engagement@hydro.com.au.
Poatina lookout - closed until Dec 2027
Poatina lookout, parking lot and picnic area will be closed during maintenance work. The site will reopen in December 2027. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Please enjoy one of our many other recreational sites!
Lake Pieman - access to campground and boat ramp closed when lake level is high (permanent alert)
To ensure public safety, the Lake Pieman spillway road gate is closed to prevent access to the campground and boat ramp when the lake is within 0.5 m from its full supply. For more information on lake levels, or to check the current level of Lake Pieman, please see our lake levels information. It can be very dangerous to be near the lake when water levels are high, so please do not enter when the gate is closed. The gate will only reopen when Lake Pieman is below 0.5 m from full, and when it is not expected for the lake to spill in the coming week.
Trevallyn Power Station intake - planned upgrade works (March–April 2026)
Hydro Tasmania will be carrying out planned upgrade works for the Trevallyn Power Station intake during March and April 2026, focused on replacing the intake trash rack screens located at the lake intake near Trevallyn Dam.These screens play an important role in protecting power station equipment by preventing debris from entering the intake system. Replacing these screens forms part of our ongoing program of asset maintenance to ensure the safe, reliable operation of Tasmania’s electricity network.Key dates (subject to weather and site conditions)The project will take place in 2 stages:Stage 1: 9 March - 2 April 2026Stage 2 8 April – 24 April 2026What the community may noticeDuring this period, residents and visitors may see:crane activity near Trevallyn Damdivers working in and around the intake areaincreased contractor and vehicle movements near the recreation area at Trevallyn Dam.All works will be carefully managed to minimise disruption, with safety measures in place for workers and the public.What are intake trash racks?Trash racks are large steel screens located at the water intake, where water flows from Lake Trevallyn into the power station.They act like a giant filter, allowing water through while catching debris such as sticks, leaves and vegetation. This helps protect turbines and internal equipment, keeps the station operating safely, and reduces the risk of unplanned outages.Over time, trash racks wear or corrode, which is why they need to be replaced periodically as part of planned maintenance.Because the racks sit underwater, specialist divers and cranes are required to safely remove and install the new screens.Lake levels and recreationImportantly, the project has been planned so Lake Trevallyn will remain within its normal operating range and will not be drained. Minor changes in lake levels may be noticed at some ramps and shorelines, however no significant impact to lake users is expected.Potential for spill eventsDepending on weather and inflows, there is a possibility that Trevallyn Dam may spill during the works period. If this occurs, it could result in higher-than-normal flows downstream in the South Esk River.Any spill events are driven by natural inflows as well as a full station outage. If a spill is expected, we will provide updates via social media and to the local council closer to the time so the community and river users can plan accordingly.Keeping the community informedWe understand the importance of Lake Trevallyn and the South Esk River to the local community, visitors and businesses. Our team will continue to monitor conditions throughout the project and share relevant updates if there are any changes to expected impacts.We thank the Launceston community for their patience while we complete this important maintenance work, which helps ensure ongoing energy reliability for Tasmania.