Question & Answer – Thefts at TasWater Sites
Meg Webb MLC placed the following Question ON Notice, 20th August 2026, regarding the recent thefts of metal infrastructure from TasWater sites.
The Question can be viewed below or as a PDF here:
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Open in new tab The Answer to Meg’s Question was provided by the Leader for the Government in the Legislative Council, Ms Rattray on Thursday 3 September 2026.Â
Thank you, Mr President, and I also have an answer to Question No. 65 on the Notice Paper of 2026 from the honourable member for Nelson, M Webb.
Regarding the reported spate of recent thefts of metal infrastructure from TasWater sites, can the government:
(1) Detail the extent of TasWater metal infrastructure which has been stolen, including:
   (a) The nature of each asset stolen;
   (b) Estimated replacement costs for each stolen and or damaged asset item;
   (c) Estimated time for TasWater crews to repair and replace damaged and stolen assets?
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(2) Detail whether similar targeting of other publicly-owned or placed on public sites metal or aluminium infrastructure, for example sporting facilities, has been identified, and if so :
   (a) The nature of such asset thefts;
   (b) Estimated costs to those respective organisations suffering such thefts?
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(3) Please provide an update as to what the government is doing to track and respond to this apparent pattern of thefts targeting metal and aluminium assets?
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(4) Has the establishment of a specific Tasmania Police taskforce to address this emerging pattern of metal infrastructure theft been considered, and if so:
   (a) When was that established; and
   (b) What is its scope?
ANSWER
 (1) (a) In late July, TasWater had the following items stolen from sites in Greater Hobart and the Derwent Valley:
- Six air valve
- Two ladder/rescue hatch/rescue
- One meter
- Around half of the railings surrounding a reservoir in the Derwent
    (b) Collectively, TasWater estimates it will cost around $30,000 to replace the stolen items or damaged assets.
    (c) TasWater estimates that between two and three operators inspected the sites, made them safe, completed police reports, and            undertook additional site visits, over an estimated three to four days. This diverted crews from other scheduled or emergency             maintenance.
       TasWater also had security guards on site overnight at both the Domain and Peppermint Hill Reservoir in the Derwent Valley to            monitor the locations until they could be secured.
(2) Tasmania Police has not identified any notable increase in metal thefts from government-owned sites across Tasmania in the last six months.
(3) The government is progressing its commitment to develop legislation to address scrap metal theft, including the theft and disposal of copper, aluminium, and other metals. Legislation and regulations are being drafted now and will be released for public consultation.
The Government has consulted extensively with industry to progress these reforms to appropriately target theft of stolen metal.
(4) Based on current intelligence and reported offending, there are no immediate plans to establish a dedicated taskforce to address aluminium thefts.
Tasmania Police remains committed to preventing and investigating theft offences across all commercial, industrial and government sites and will continue to deploy resources in line with identified risks and emerging trends.
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Meg’s Question and Answer provided on Thursday 3 September 2026 can be viewed below or as a PDF here:
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