Increase in TasPorts’ freight volumes points to a growing Tasmanian economy

Reflecting a growing Tasmanian economy, TasPorts’ freight volumes increased from 12.6 million tonnes to 12.8 million tonnes in the past financial year.

The increase – a highlight of the TasPorts 2014-15 Annual Report that I was pleased to table in Parliament today – helped revenue rise by 5.4 per cent from $82.4 million to $86.9 million.

The TasPorts operated Devonport Airport, meanwhile, recorded a significant 9.74 per cent increase in passenger numbers, rising to 143,417 for the year.

Both are positive signs of the work of the Hodgman Liberal Government to grow Tasmania’s economy to create jobs.

In 2014-15, TasPorts almost doubled spending on assets and fleet maintenance – from $14.1 million in 2013-14 to $26.4 million last year – as it renews the State’s important port infrastructure.

The Annual Report details spending on commercial and community assets and also on dredging, and shows an improved operating result.

While the operating loss was greater than that for the previous year, it remained broadly in line with expectations and was attributed to that increased expenditure on maintenance and infrastructure upgrades.

Tasmania’s largest maintenance dredging project in the past 10 years was completed at the Port of Devonport.

This $6.7 million project was essential to restoring and maintaining safe navigational access for port customers, including TT-Line, SeaRoad and Cement Australia.

The important $12 million Burnie Port Optimisation Project began in 2014-15, and is funded jointly by TasPorts, Toll and TasRail, in addition to the Tasmanian and Australian governments.

Other works undertaken in 2014-15 included:

• Demolition of the old Brooke St Pier and seabed levelling to enable redevelopment of the site for the new, floating Brooke St Pier, supporting the 150,000 tourists who catch ferries to MONA each year;
• A new $1.5m retaining wall used by fishing vessels in Strahan and assistance for strategic precinct planning for the Strahan waterfront;
• Removal of the redundant roll-on-roll-off towers at the Port of Stanley; and
• Remediation works for Inspection Head wharf, car park and boat ramp in the Tamar River at Beauty Point.
Rene Hidding, Minister for Infrastructure