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Approximately $80m will be invested in Burnie’s port.

Work will start on a major expansion of Tasmania’s port infrastructure later this year, after TasPorts outlined a $200 million Port Master Plan.

TasPorts Chair Stephen Bradford said the developments would help the company meet customer demand, attract new business and provide the best value for customers.

 

“The Plans guide port infrastructure investment over the next 15 years and are expected to help inject hundreds of millions of dollars into Tasmania’s economy over the longer term,” Mr Bradford said.

TasPorts CEO Paul Weedon said the Port Master Plan was a major long-term investment to ensure that Tasmania’s maritime trade system has the capacity to grow for the benefit of the entire state.

“With more than 99% of the state’s freight coming and going by sea, ports are one of our most important infrastructure assets and it is vital we plan for the future to meet growing demand,” Mr Weedon said.

Projects include:

BELL BAY – A $10 million investment to improve berthing capacity at Bell Bay No.6 berth, enabling forestry and mining exports from multiple berths, upgrade of fuel pipelines and increased capacity for fuel storage. A new transport and wash-down system will also assist forestry exports.

BURNIE – Approximately $80 million will be invested at Burnie, including the proposed international container terminal. Work will also include a project to dredge the berth to provide for Toll’s larger Bass Strait vessels and improved cruise facilities to enable more ship visits and tourism growth.

DEVONPORT – A $50-$60 million development will extend berthing facilities for passengers, cargo and freight. Infrastructure will accommodate the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels arriving in 2021, allowing an additional 160,000 passengers annually to enter Devonport.

HOBART – TasPorts will invest $50-$60 million to develop a new Antarctic logistics precinct to support the Tasmanian Antarctic Gateway Strategy and attract further international programs and provide a permanent base for RSV Nuyina, Australia’s latest ice breaker research vessel, which will arrive mid-2020. Plans include a reorganised cruise precinct at Macquarie Wharf to provide additional berths for cruise vessels, allowing services to grow with demand.