Swan Point is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of

West Tamar West Tamar Council is a local government body in Tasmania, situated along the western side of the Tamar River in the north of the state. West Tamar is classified as an urban local government area and has a population of 23,769, it extends from ...

in the Launceston LGA region of

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

. The locality is about south-east of the town of

Beaconsfield Beaconsfield ( ) is a market town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Buckinghamshire, England, west-northwest of central London and south-southeast of Aylesbury. Three other towns are within : Gerrards Cross, Amersham and High W ...

. The 2016 census recorded a population of 282 for the state suburb of Swan Point. Historically the area has been mostly a summertime shack locality because of health risks from Launceston city's poorly designed sewerage system frequently overflowing untreated sewage throughout winter/early spring. Historical orcharding has left chemical residues present in the soils.

History

Swan Point is a confirmed locality. Prior to the 1970s, it had substantial apple and pear orcharding. This has left residues of organochlorines, lead, arsenic, mercury and in particular DDT in the soils throughout the region. Lead and arsenic are persistent and become quite problematic when soil is turned over during housing construction excavation. Sewerage treatment by Launceston city 30km south, is a major problem for the region because the Tamar Valley acts as a conduit and stormwater from rooves of Launceston houses, is plumbed to run into the sewage treatment ponds, making them frequently overflow during any substantial rainfall event.

Geography

The waters of the

Tamar River The Tamar River, officially kanamaluka / River Tamar, is a estuary located in northern Tasmania, Australia. Despite being called a river, the waterway is a brackish and tidal estuary over its entire length. Location and features Formed by the ...

Estuary form the north-western, northern and eastern boundaries.

Road infrastructure

Route C728 (Deviot Road) runs along the south-west boundary. Access to the locality is provided by Paper Beach Road.

References

Towns in Tasmania Localities of West Tamar Council {{Tasmania-geo-stub