The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to ensuring regional Tasmania shares in the benefits as we work to achieve our vision of attracting 1.5 million visitors a year to the State by 2020.
More people visiting Tasmania helps to create more jobs in hospitality and tourism but also in retail and service industries generally.
This is particularly evident in the growing cruise ship market, which regularly sees a daily boom in visitors to our port cities through the warmer months.
Burnie has become a destination of choice for cruise lines over the past 15 years, with many passengers taking the opportunity to walk around the city or hop on busses to visit some of the surrounding attractions, including Cradle Mountain.
While the city boasts a working port and a very welcoming local council, cruise ships have been getting bigger and bigger, and vessels longer than 280 metres are not able to be safely docked.
The Government worked closely with Tasports to find a solution, which will see a mooring dolphin installed at a cost of up to $1.5 million in time for the 2016-17 season.
This will extend the maximum vessel size to 315 metres, allowing for almost all cruise ships currently sailing in Australian waters to be berthed.
Tasports will fund and manage the project under its Community Asset Program, which was established with support from the State Government to invest in infrastructure of high community and tourism use or interest.
Allowing the Port of Burnie to continue to host cruise ships is important if we are to ensure that the North-West shares in the benefits of this growing market.
The Burnie City Council and the Cradle Coast Authority have been very active in pursuing this project, and I commend their efforts to promote regional tourism.
Rene Hidding, Minister for Infrastructure
