Changes in Federal shipping laws could mean a new $20 million international container terminal, would be built in Burnie, Tas.
Australia’s largest stevedore DP World Australia has entered into an exclusive agreement with Tasports, to build the terminal.
DP World chief corporate development officer Brian Gillespie said the time was right, to develop the new facility.
“The proposed changes to the Coastal Shipping Act will make it attractive for international container shipping lines to call at Tasmania, if suitable facilities exist,” Mr Gillespie said.
Work on the project was expected to start in January next year.
He said it was expected to inject another $10m a year, into the local economy.
Mr Gillespie said construction was dependent on changes to the Coastal Shipping Act.
Changes to the act, included replacing the existing three tiered licencing system, with a single permit system, available to Australian and foreign vessels, establishing a framework of entitlements for seafarers on foreign vessels engaged in coastal trading and repealing the coastal trading act of 2012.
Under the proposed changes to the Coastal Trading Act, foreign-flagged ships with all foreign crews would be allowed to pay international wages - about a third of Australian pay – on domestic routes for up to half the year.
The opposition and unions have strongly criticised the changes to coastal shipping.
Opposition Transport and Infrastructure Spokesman Anthony Albanese said the changes would cost Australian jobs, and one cruise ship company had already been advised to lay off local workers.
.Tasports chief executive Paul Weedon welcomed the commitment to develop the terminal.
“The proposed enhancement will not only increase capacity at the port, but also provide new options for the Tasmanian import and export industry to access the world’s major markets,” Mr Weedon said.
Tasports has identified Burnie as the state’s future largest natural gateway for container freight, in and out of the state.
