Legislative Council Tuesday 30 October 2018

Ms  FORREST  question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

Regarding the John Duigan roll-on roll-off shipping service operating from Geelong -

(1)     Is the service now operating fully?

(2)     If not, what are the reasons for delays?

(3)     When do you expect the service to operate as scheduled?

ANSWER

Mr President, I thank the member for Murchison for her question.  The answers are as follows -

(1)  Bass Island Line - BIL - is providing a safe and reliable shipping service for the King Island community.  I will call it BIL.  Are you happy with that?

Ms  Forrest  - I am more interested in what the roll-on roll-off services are all about.

Mrs HISCUTT -

BIL operates a weekly service between Geelong in Victoria, Grassy on King Island and mainland Tasmania. 

TasPorts continues to seek updates from GeelongPort around the development of a roll-on roll-off ramp at Geelong to service the needs of BIL and its customers.  In the meantime, BIL will continue to make use of the port's lift-on lift-off - LOLO - wharf. 

(2)  GeelongPort continues to seek the required approvals from the Victorian Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning for the construction of this facility.  This is a matter to be resolved by GeelongPort as the owner and operator of the port.  BIL is a customer of GeelongPort and is therefore not directly involved in the resolution of this Victorian planning matter.  Nevertheless, BIL continues to press for a speedy resolution to this matter on behalf of its customers. 

In addition to numerous phones and emails, TasPorts' general manager, operations also met with representatives from GeelongPort on 9 October 2018 to discuss this matter.  BIL is a wholly owned subsidiary of TasPorts. 

TasPorts sought a further update from GeelongPort on Monday 29 October and was advised by GeelongPort that it is now close to finalising all approvals.  At that point, GeelongPort and BIL will work together to confirm the ongoing port user agreement.

(3)  Once approval is granted, GeelongPort expects the build to take up to three months.  A draft site layout is with GeelongPort.