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TransportTasmania has well-developed transport systems covering sea, land and air. The state’s transport system provides fast and efficient links between major Tasmanian centres and other parts of Australia, as well as international markets.
Freight services are vital for many businesses, both in terms of the supply of domestic and imported inputs to production and the supply of finished goods to domestic and international markets. When compared with other Australian states Tasmania is a low-cost freight environment, with the:
» lowest air freight costs
» best access to ports.
(Source: Competition Index 2007-08)
About 600 flights each week carry passengers and air freight to and from four airports at Wynyard (near Burnie), Devonport, Launceston and Hobart. The major cities of Hobart and Launceston are approximately one hour by air from Melbourne and one hour 45 minutes from Sydney.
An extensive, well-maintained road network provides efficient internal transportation and all major centres are serviced by efficient public transport. The freight rail system has branch lines to many of the major resource processing plants, providing transport for bulk freight such as coal, timber and cement.
Tasmanian sea-freight tonnage exceeds 1 million tonnes a year. Regular, direct shipping services from the deep-water seaports of Hobart, Burnie, Port Latta and Bell Bay link Tasmania to Europe, North America and Asia. The Bass Strait ferries provide daily sailings from the mainland to Devonport in the state’s north-west.
Through the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (TFES), the Australian Government provides financial assistance to shippers of eligible freight that is transported by sea between Tasmania and the Australian mainland. The assistance is demand-driven and there is no upper limit to the total annual payment.
Sea Ports
Tasmania’s major ports offer uncongested waterways with excellent shipping services and safe all-weather access to the largest of vessels. The ports are served by rail and road links to destinations throughout Tasmania and by air links to the Australian mainland and overseas.
Tasmania is serviced by a number of regular domestic and international shipping services that are responsible for the movement of the great majority of Tasmania’s interstate and international trade.
Tasmania has a healthy inbound and outbound market for both containerised and bulk goods sending out consumables, fruit, vegetables, minerals, ores, and forest products (woodchips, logs and paper) and bringing in consumables, fuels, minerals and other inputs to production.
Burnie port
Burnie port services Tasmania’s major west coast mines and handles most types of bulk shipping including minerals, fuels, woodchips and logs, as well as containerised consumables. The export of forest products is an important operation of the port.
Devonport Port
The Port of Devonport handles wheat, grain, cement and containerised goods outbound, and fertilisers, fuels and consumables inbound. The port is home to TT-Line Company Pty Ltd’s Spirits of Tasmania I and II that operate daily between Devonport and Melbourne.
Bell Bay
Located at Bell Bay on the eastern bank of the Tamar River 48 kilometres north of Launceston, the port is adjacent to a major Tasmanian industrial estate. The port is a major port for domestic and international bulk goods as well as container services.
Hobart Port
Hobart is one of the ten deepest city ports in the world. Hobart is the main cruise ship and naval vessel destination for Tasmania, a key base for Australian Antarctic supply vessels and is the home of the Incat high-speed catamaran shipbuilding operation. A major fuel supply is located at Self’s Point in Hobart. Three deepwater berths are available to accommodate the largest cruise vessels currently afloat.
Regional Ports
Beyond the major ports of Hobart, Bell Bay, Burnie and Devonport, a number of smaller ports around Tasmania provide strategic freight and cargo access:
Triabunna - exports more than 800,000 tonnes of woodchips per year on woodchip vessels that deliver cargo direct to markets in Japan.
Strahan - home to modern cruise boats departing daily to travel deep into the Gordon River World Heritage Area and to a sizeable fishing fleet which fish the waters of the west coast for crayfish and abalone.
Stanley and Smithton - home to a permanent fleet of fishing vessels that fish the waters of Bass Strait and the west coast.
King Island and Flinders Island - trade is predominantly in fuels, livestock, fertiliser and general cargo inbound and livestock, wool and general cargo outbound.
Cold stores
Cold stores in Burnie, Devonport and Hobart offer a combined capacity of over 130,000 cubic metres providing large or small customers with cold storage on a statewide basis. Devonport provides cold storage for a variety of casual users, including the bulk vegetable, fishing, meat, poultry and small berry industries. Burnie operates cold storage available for small or large quantities of frozen goods and cool storage is also available for small quantities. Hobart has extensive cold and dry storage facilities, and warehousing services tailored to satisfy total supply chain management.
Quarantine services
Quarantine Services offer the highest standards of accredited quarantine services throughout Tasmania. Quarantine Services provide full support to the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service for industry needs, including container washdown and inspection, heat treatment for small quarantine items, cut flower fumigation and a statewide mobile clip on fumigation service.
