Lake Rosebery oil spill response continues over the long weekend

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) continues to lead the response to an oil spill incident on Lake Rosebery on Tasmania's west coast.

As part of the response, a public drop-in forum was held at the Tullah Hall on Thursday 23 January where approximately 20 local residents attended.

At the forum, representatives from several agencies involved in the response were available to answer questions and provide updates on the spill.

“Last night provided a great opportunity for the EPA, Hydro Tasmania, West Coast Council and TasWater to meet with the community and answer any questions they had," CEO and Director of the EPA, Wes Ford said.

Going into the long weekend, the current priorities include, but are not limited to; safety, information gathering, continued reconnaissance for new oil or oil movement, shoreline cleaning and on-water removal of oil as well as monitoring and testing.

“The response is progressing well, over the past few days we have been able to remove 5000 litres of remaining oily water from the underground tank where the spill originated," Mr Ford said.

“So far, the EPA has noted the impact to wildlife has been minimal, however expert animal welfare resources remain on standby if significant oiled wildlife is identified.

“A full-time dedicated oiled wildlife spotter will be deployed to site from tomorrow."

EPA acknowledge the inconvenience the Lake Rosebery closure has on locals and visitors alike, particularly during peak tourism season.

“We appreciate the cooperation and support by those impacted by the closure, we will endeavor to work towards a re-opening when it is safe to do so," Mr Ford said.

TasPorts has played a critical role in the ongoing cleanup efforts at Lake Rosebery, with seven personnel working on a rotational basis to support containment and recovery activities. This includes two crew members permanently assigned to operate TasPorts' vessel Pelican, which has been central to all water-based activities, enabling the containment of the spill and supporting the broader recovery operation.

The lake has been declared a Prohibited Area by Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) until at least 12:00 am on Friday 31 January 2025, unless cancelled sooner, and includes all waters of Lake Rosebery.​

Published on: 27/01/2025