KING Island has won an undertaking from the State Government to do a new and updated technical study on Grassy Harbour for port expansion.
Mayor Marcus Blackie was positive and optimistic after his meetings with the Premier, Deputy Premier and Cabinet Ministers last week.
Mr Blackie said one of the good takeaways from a discussion with Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson was that the Government, has given an undertaking to revisit the harbour’s future development.
“The current study that we’re still working off is from 2008,” he said.
“It’s quite dated and technology and shipping logistics have changed.
“We need a revised study to understand how we might best design a Grassy Harbour expansion.
“We could incorporate wave power generation and other clever ideas, package it up, and accurately cost it.
“We know it’s technically possible and achievable.
“With good accuracy of the costs involved, we can go and garner investment from state, federal, or private investment … for our future growth requirements.
While visiting Government Ministers did not make any other major on-island announcements Mr Blackie said his focus was on relationship building and he was pleased with discussions and government undertakings.
“Having the Premier and Cabinet on King Island, was a huge compliment, and a great opportunity,” he said.
“We really put on the charm offensive. We treated the Government with respect and gave them the benefit of the doubt in a lot of areas.
“I was starting relationships with most of the Ministers and the Premier. I think the cabinet visit opened a lot of doors for us. The Government gave us a lot of very positive undertakings yesterday.
“It was just good to sit with them as a part of this regional Cabinet and talk about our main issues of shipping, housing, emergency services, health and future local government reforms.
“A lot of these are old issues. King Island is worthy of investment, and we’ve got to sell it to the State Government and to others.
“I think we achieved that. At our social function and during the regional Cabinet meeting in the chambers, I thanked the State Government for their ongoing support for King Island and for their investments.
“Shipping was our number one priority issue. We discussed that issue at length. It’s our biggest, flat-lining influence … and it is critical.
“I said to them that we don’t like it when MLC Ruth Forrest and others ask questions in the State Parliament, and those questions related to shipping are answered by TasPorts.
“As far as we’re concerned, TasPorts does not speak for the aspirations and the future of King Island and they don’t speak for King Islanders.
“They’re a government business enterprise and essentially a stevedore company. They shouldn’t really be speaking for the Tasmanian Government.”
Mr Blackie said that King Island’s future aspirations need population and continued economic growth, for demand-driven justifications for big future investments such as Grassy Harbour, airport expansion and similar projects.
He said that he is trying to change the perception that King Island whinges about never getting what it wants.
“I know we’re not like that, but that’s often how we’re perceived. I’m trying to change that image. It is one of the things I identified I had to do very, very quickly when I took over as mayor six months ago.”
The council welcomed the recent announcement that the Government will not force local government amalgamations.
“The last item discussed in our regional Cabinet was the future of the local government reform program and I clearly articulated King Island’s position that we want to remain as we are.
“Our council isn’t perfect, but they recognised that we’re doing a good job.
“They understand our position and we firmed that up. We’ll still contribute to the reform program because all councils can be better if we can get some minor improvements, dividends or efficiencies out of this.
“They know our position.”