Arm End golf project gets water lifeline with government support
It’s been a decade since a dry piece of Crown Land on the end of a peninsula was leased to a private developer for a golf course — now, a pipe is being installed to bring treated effluent to the area, using millions of dollars in Commonwealth funds.
Seven kilometres of pipe are being placed along the bottom of the River Derwent to connect the dry South Arm Peninsula with a recycled water treatment plant proposed for the opposite shore.
The proposed Arm End public golf course and a public recreation area are at the other end of the pipeline.
But while the pipe works are ongoing, the developer is facing multiple legal challenges — the first in the Supreme Court against the golf course approval, and another in the planning tribunal against the treatment plant.
South Arm Irrigation Scheme chief operating officer Michael Kerschbaum told ABC Drive the golf course was the “catalyst” for the irrigation scheme.
“Only about a third will go to the golf course, the balance will go to the other golf course down the bottom end — they’re quite interested in taking some of our water, as are a range of farmers,” he said.
The nearby Iron Pot golf course is proposed as another user of the water.
Mr Kerschbaum said the irrigation scheme has “offtake agreements” with nine landholders who will “hopefully convert it into something useful”.
They will each need to pay to connect to the pipeline, which is bringing Class A treated water to the peninsula.
