Tasmania's government says it can fix the state's ailing water infrastructure in five years but concedes it needs help from mainland workers to get there.

The government’s proposal to take over water and sewerage provider TasWater has been backed by a modelling report by Infrastructure Tasmania.

It said the company’s 10-year plan to fix infrastructure could be completed in half the time, with $450 million of spending brought forward to 2022/23.  However the report, reviewed by engineering firm pitt&sherry, noted a combination of local and national skills would be needed to meet the workload.

“In accelerating the plan, I would expect that we’ll see some migration of skills to Tasmania,” Treasurer Peter Gutwein said on Wednesday.

“By completing the existing 10-year works program within five years of taking over the business, we will also be able to commence work sooner on stage two projects including the Launceston storm-water project and Macquarie Point.”

TasWater, owned and operated by the state’s 29 councils, has struggled to supply services to some townships in the apple isle.

Mr Gutwein says the government plans to release draft legislation in relation to the takeover in coming days.

In June, the Liberal government sought legal advice from the solicitor-general amid claims the proposed takeover was unlawful.

 

By Ethan James