The DEC for water and sewerage infrastructure in Tasmania is projected to increase by 18 per cent to $283 million between 2011 and 2031. The Audit identified that 34 GL of water was supplied to Hobart in 2011 and 43 GL to other regions. This does not cover rural water supplies or water supplied for hydroelectric generation, because it was not included in data extracted from the National Water Commission data set. Sewage collected in 2011 comprised 20 GL in Hobart and 41 GL in other regions.
The highest projected growth in water and sewerage DEC in Tasmania is in Hobart, where DEC is projected to grow by $25 million from 2011 to $135 million in 2031. DEC is projected to grow by $18 million to $148 million in 2031 in regional areas.
Water and sewerage services have historically been under-priced, particularly in regional areas. This has potentially led to an understatement of DEC, which is derived from National Water Commission data.
In regional areas, under-pricing of water and sewerage services means that the income derived from that infrastructure falls below the level needed to fund renewal of assets.