ARGUMENTS continue over whether Grassy Port is an all-weather safe harbour.
TasPorts and Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson claim that it is, while independent Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest maintains that the Grassy Port is not an all-weather safe harbour.
Ms Forrest’s opinion is supported and evidenced by King Island shippers, ship owners, shipping group members, and the wider community.
Ms Forrest was also chair of the King Island Shipping Inquiry held in 2017.
In March Ms Forrest asked the Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, if the Government would construct or develop an all-weather safe harbour at Grassy, and to consider using the overburden from the Group 6 Metals mine when it becomes available as it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Mr Ferguson said that neither was there a demonstrated need to develop a master plan for Grassy Harbour; that Grassy already has additional capacity beyond its current freight task and that TasPorts would only review its position on the need for an additional safe harbour if demand were to significantly increase.
Ms Forrest asked Mr Ferguson at the end of June if he stood by his March comments.
“There has been documented evidence of both the Bass Island Line vessel, the John Duigan, and vessels owned by Eastern Shipping Lines, being denied access to the Grassy Port or they have had to inform their customers on King Island who had stock awaiting transport at the port that had to be returned to farms to ‘try again tomorrow’ on account of weather conditions,” she said.
“On what basis does TasPorts make the claim that the current Grassy Harbour is an all-weather safe harbour?”
Mr Ferguson said that TasPorts advises that vessels have not been denied access to the Port of Grassy, that there have been delays due to “…environment and weather-related safe port parameters… which can restrict the times at which a vessel can berth and safely stay alongside- these include daylight hours of operation, tide, wind, and surge…”
“TasPorts advises that the Port is fit for purpose, there is no demonstratable need for either a new berth or harbour and there is no indication that other or larger shipping lines have a desire to call into the Port of Grassy,” Mr Ferguson said.
Cruise ships do include King Island in their itineraries.
The passengers from ships which have visited King Island cannot berth and are currently transferred by zodiac.
Mr Ferguson cautioned in his response and said that any investment in infrastructure would need to be supported by port charges as TasPorts is required to operate as a commercial business.
“Port charges would be levied on shipping companies and passed on to users of these services, including livestock producers, so care is clearly required.”
The Tasmanian Economic Regulator is currently conducting an Inquiry into TasPorts/Bass Island Line King Island customer costing and pricing structures with the report due in August.
Mr Ferguson recognised that G6M will have overburden but did not indicate that TasPorts would capitalise on the opportunity to utilise the overburden to develop the Grassy Port into a safe all-weather harbour.
“I found this response just as disappointing as the previous responses related to the need to work together with a future focussed approach to ensuring King Island has an all-weather port that also can provide a safe harbour in all conditions,” Ms Forrest said.
“I have seen written evidence that this is not the case with ships being denied access or having to anchor offshore for hours or longer to access the port due to weather (including the swell) conditions that may delay ships entering or leaving the port.
“I do actually wonder who prepares these responses and whether they even communicate with the local people, and shipping companies who service King Island,” she said.
“The most disappointing aspect is the refusal to accept the reality that King Islanders experience delays in getting important supplies, having to transport the same cattle to and then back from the port when the owners expect them to be shipped.
“This creates significant cost and has a negative impact on the stock wellbeing and condition.
“If TasPorts and the Government were willing to be future focussed, look at opportunities to create an all-weather safe harbour and use the overburden from G6M mine in Grassy this would not only future proof the island’s shipping needs but also open up a range of other options for King Island,” Ms Forrest said.