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FAQs
Do not enter the water if you see oil on the surface
Do not swim or take your boat through oil sheens
Wash off any oil on your skin with soap and cold water. It feels sticky to touch.
Avoid swallowing water or touching oiled plants or rocks
Stay away from the booms which keep the oil away from the clean areas
Do not to eat eels or fish from the Lake.
Is the drinking water safe to consume?
Water quality testing at the Tullah Water Treatment Plant shows the water is safe to drink, despite the need to keep some areas of the lake closed.
The TasWater intake is approximately 26 metres below the water surface and some distance from the shore, meaning the intake water is protected from contamination.
Multiple water samples taken from the site have not detected any contamination, and additional testing will continue to provide reassurance for the community.
Please contact TasWater via their website(External link) directly for questions about your domestic or business water supply.
Am I at risk?
No.
The Department of Health has advises:
For more detailed information, you can call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
What is the substance?
A mixture of light and heavy oils.
Testing indicates there are no pesticides or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) present.
Testing is ongoing and for further queries please contact the Government Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
When will the lake reopen?
The lake is the heart of Tullah and we know it's an integral part of community life.
The lake is reopening at 6pm Friday March 7, 2025. Some 'oil collecting booms' will remain in small areas to ensure the efficient collection and removal of any remaining oil.
How will the oil be removed?
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) transferred responsibility for recovery efforts to lake owner Hydro Tasmania on Friday 7 February.
To date absorbent booms have been used in addition to manual shoreline clean-up and trial vegetation trimming. The EPA also requested that Hydro Tasmania lower the level of Lake Rosebery by 300 millimetres to enable safer shoreline access for clean-up efforts.
The slight lowering of the lake was part of the tactical response and will allow for more shoreline-based clean-up using waders rather than boats. This gives extra clearance in the gorge where oiled foliage is located on steep and difficult to reach areas. The lake will remain lowered for the time being to allow shoreline cleanup to occur.
A black ring around the edge of the lake may remain visible for some time depending on the clean-up method assessed as best suited to the specific area.
More information about the clean-up process, including methods and time frames will be shared on this site when available.