The Hodgman majority Liberal Government is delivering on our plan boost the economy across all parts of the state and create jobs.
TasPorts is a major contributor to this plan with the company delivering strong results for the third year in a row and also releasing a $200 million Ports Master Plan.
TasPorts’ consolidated net profit in 2017-18 was $5.8 million, an increase of more than 80 per cent on the previous year.
This financial result was underpinned by a 6.8 per cent increase in freight volume to 15.2 million tonnes with three stand-out commodities – woodchips 3.2 million tonnes, general cargo 1.7 million tonnes and cement 1.3 million tonnes.
The cruise ship industry continued to grow with 125 ships carrying 245,265 passengers and 100,971 crew calling at ports around the state. This was a 36.5 per cent increase on the previous year and a 131 per cent increase in the number of cruise ship visits in the past five years from 54 in 2012-13.
This year also saw the first cruise ship visit to Beauty Point in five years and follows an investment of $4 million in port facilities there to accommodate such visits.
In November 2017 the Norwegian Jewel became the first vessel to utilise the new $1.74 million mooring dolphin at the Port of Burnie which was followed by four further visits during 2017-18.
The Board also approved a Ports Master Plan to guide infrastructure improvements of $200 million during the next 15 years to ensure port facilities meets the future demands of Tasmania’s growing economy.
These upgrades include:
The Hodgman Liberal Government understands that infrastructure projects of this size require significant consultation with all key customers and stakeholders to ensure that our ports contribute to making Tasmania the best place to live, work and raise a family