The management of Tasmania’s freshwater resources has thrown up a number of conservation issues which the TCT campaigns on. These include:

Threatened Species
Tasmania is home to diverse array of freshwater fauna, including 15 species of galaxiid (small freshwater fish), freshwater snails, freshwater lobsters (including the world’s largest species) and many other unique species. Unfortunately, water development, river regulation, habitat loss and invasive species have resulted in many of these species becoming endangered.

The draft freshwater galaxiids recovery plan provides more information on threatened galaxiid fish in Tasmania [http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/LJEM-6497HL?open]

Dams
The Water Development Plan for Tasmania heralded a dramatic increase in dam building in Tasmania. Almost all of the large dam proposals that were suggested, but the Tasmanian Government has chosen to continue pursuing the Meander Dam despite it failing every regulatory and commercial check.

The position of the TCT, as outlined in 2003, can be seen here.

The WWF also has looked at whether the proposed Meander Dam complies with National Competition Policy. You can read about this aspect here.

Environmental Flows
Environmental flows are set through a statutory process known as water management planning. The Tasmania is seriously lagging behind in the development and implementation of water management plans, with only 4 out of around 30 having been finalised by mid 2006.

Plantation Establishment
Broadscale clearing followed by the establishment of fast growing eucalyptus plantations can have a serious effect on water balance in a catchment.

Dr. David Leaman presented this paper (1.25 MB PDF download) on the relationship between land use and water at a conference on landclearing in 2003.

Urban water Supply
Hobart, the second driest capital city in Australia, is also the only capital city in which does not have a two part tariff, or user-pays, system for residential water supply. This archaic and failing system presents huge problems for the future management of urban water in greater Hobart.