A delegate of the Board of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has concluded assessment of a proposal by Nyrstar Hobart Pty Ltd for remediation of the mid-span section of its wharf at the zinc works in Lutana, located in the Glenorchy City Council municipality.
The proposal involves replacement of a mid-span section of the wharf with a precast concrete deck and the removal of old timber piles, which will be replaced by new steel piles. Additionally, maintenance of the ship loader crane beam arms is also required to address patchy spalling (flaking/chipping of concrete due to rusting steel reinforcement bars within the concrete), which involves hydro-blasting the affected areas to expose the steel reinforcement and then re-casing in grout/concrete.
Public consultation was open for 31 days from 1 November 2025. No representations were made in relation to the proposal. Key environmental issues identified included noise emissions and impacts on water quality from piling related activities.
The Board’s delegate has considered the relevant issues and determined that the proposal can be managed in an environmentally sustainable manner, with conditions imposed.
The zinc works existing permit conditions apply to this project, including conditions setting noise limits, requiring community noise monitoring and allowing the Director to require a noise survey if deemed necessary. The existing conditions also require all stormwater to be captured and treated through the site's existing effluent treatment plant prior to being discharged to the Derwent estuary, with associated monitoring conditions for the discharge located within the estuary.
The Environment Protection Notice issued in relation to this proposal builds on existing permit conditions by restricting the hours that piling activities may occur, requiring the noise mitigation measures proposed to be implemented and reporting of any noise complaints to the Director within 24 hours. An adaptive water quality management approach is to be used and must be detailed in a Construction Environmental Management Plan, including additional water quality monitoring and daily turbidity monitoring during piling works. A monitoring report must be provided to the Director following each piling campaign to ensure water quality management is appropriate and the management measures are adapted, if necessary, to minimise any potential impacts on water quality.
The Board’s delegate undertook assessment of the proposal in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Principles in Section 74 of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.
This decision and all assessment documents can be viewed here: Nyrstar Hobart, Wharf Mid Span Remediation, Lutana.
Published on:
17/02/2026