Hydro Tasmania will be carrying out planned upgrade works for Trevallyn Intake during March and April, 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 over 2 sections

• Stage 1: 09th March - April 2nd 2026
• Stage 2  08th  April – 24th April 2026

What the community may notice

During this period, residents and visitors may see:

• Crane activity near Trevallyn Dam
• Divers working in and around the intake area
• Increased 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 recreation

Importantly, the project has been planned so Lake Trevallyn will stay up and will not be drained, meaning there is no expected impact to recreational lake users, including boating, swimming and shoreline activities.

Potential for spill events

Depending 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 Local Council closer to the time so the community and river users can plan accordingly.

Keeping the community informed

We 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.