KING Island fishers and boat operators are concerned about the closure of the Currie Harbour slipway with the commercial southern rock loster season due to open in two weeks.
Fishers say TasPorts has closed the slipway but have given no information about when it will repaired or re-opened. Fishers have been told the Port of Stanley has been identified as suitable for the needs of Currie fishing vessel operators. TasPorts closed the slipway for remedial work, however fishing boat operators are still waiting for answers as to what works will be undertaken and when and fear that the slipway will remain closed during summer.
Well known fisher and boat operator Robert Jordon said it was May when the Hobart surveyor visited the island for TasPorts and indicated that the slipway needed remedial work.
“Nothing has happened since then, other than TasPorts closing the slipway,” he said. “I understand that the surveyors put two proposals to the TasPorts board. “The first was to stay with the current design and repair and the second is to put in a hydraulic trailer system. “I haven’t received any communications – no email, call or letters, regarding what is and will happen, when or the costs.”
Chief Operating Officer Stephen Casey said TasPorts was committed to ensuring the safety of all port users. “Following initial investigations at the Currie Harbour slipway site, a closure is in effect to allow an assessment of rectification options,” he said. “The closure and alternate slipway option has been communicated to stakeholders.”
Mr Jordan said that local boat operators were in a difficult and stressful situation with the critical infrastructure being closed, with no information and with no work commenced, and needing to wait for TasPorts board decisions. “If a boat goes out and say a rope fouls the propellor, or it hits a rock, does a gear box, and must come out of the water for repairs, the TasPorts solution is that it will need to be towed to Stanley if the fisher wants to continue working this season.
“That’s not easy. There are weather patterns to consider, costs getting it towed there, and then additional costs once there. There’s no guarantee that there will be space to do the repairs. It’s a busy port and there are some big boats in there during summer.”
The closure is adding to the stress that cray fishers have experienced as they enter their second season of China trade bans. In 2020 China implemented trade restrictions on Australian products including rock lobsters, creating a domestic glut and price crash while the industry diversified and sourced new markets.
There are positive signs that China could be ready to discuss lifting the trade bans, however it is a volatile market and local fishers need island infrastructure security to make business decisions.