New option could ease Bass Strait ‘backlog’

TASMANIAN sea freight company SeaRoad says it can help ease the backlog of caravans and motorhomes fighting for a spot on the Spirit of Tasmania ferries if it can be included in the federal government’s Bass Strait rebate scheme.

Passengers wanting to get their big vehicles from Devonport to Melbourne and return are venting their frustration as they wait many months for a berth on the two Bass Strait ferries.

TT-Line said last week its two bigger ships – now not due to start the run till 2024 – would ease the booking frustration felt by passengers with big vehicles.

TT-Line chief executive Bernard Dwyer said it was obvious Tasmania needed larger ferries to cope with demand.

Sea Road CEO Chas Kelly told business leaders and politicians at a breakfast in Devonport on Wednesday his sea freight company was talking to the government about how it could access the rebate scheme to make it more affordable for customers to ship their vehicles on his vessels.

“We can and do take caravans and motorhomes on our vessels,” Mr Kelly said.

“But as a freight ship we are not subsidised by the federal government. We are asking if we can qualify for that rebate so the savings can be passed on to customers,” Mr Kelly said.

Braddon MP Gavin Pearce said he would work to progress that conversation because having another transport option for vehicles was worth talking about.

“Chas Kelly’s business confidence infects others,” Mr Pearce said.

The breakfast meeting was held to update the Tasmanian community on the $240m Project QuayLink redevelopment which will upgrade critical infrastructure at the Port of Devonport to future-proof the city as Tasmania’s tourism and trade gateway for the next 50 years.

The arrival of the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels and SeaRoad’s new freight ship will mean the port’s freight capacity will increase by 40 per cent and 160,000 more passenger visits to Tasmania each year.

A new Spirit of Tasmania terminal will be built in East Devonport – one TasPorts chief operating officer Stephen Casey said needed to be as good as or better than the one under construction in Geelong.

“The new terminal and commercial precinct needs to be a building of substance,” he said.

The current terminal building will be demolished.

“Port construction is not as sexy as building a new hotel because a lot of the action happens under the water but Project QuayLink is a massive undertaking. We need more separation between ships, a new TT-line berth and increase the footprint of the working port from 140,000 to 188,000 sqm.’’