Legislative Council, Wednesday 26 October 2022

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

Following the response to my question related to futureproofing of Grassy Harbour on King Island to ensure reliable, sustainable and cost-effective shipping service is assured through the construction of a new - and I emphasise new in the question - all-weather, safe harbour at Grassy on King Island, rather than strengthen the existing breakwater that supports the current port, a port that is not all-weather or a safe harbour facility:

(1) Will the Government commit to actively consulting with Group 6 Metals, who have commenced mining operations in Grassy and will have significant overburden available in the first quarter of 2025 that could be used to construct a new all-weather safe harbor at Grassy and thus reduce the costs of such construction considerably; and

(a) If so, will this consultation begin in a timely manner to enable necessary planning processes to be completed prior to the overburden becoming available

(2) Will TasPorts commit to actively consulting with Group 6 Metals, who have commenced mining operations in Grassy and will have significant overburden available in the first quarter of 2025 that could be used to construct a new all-weather safe harbor at Grassy and thus reduce costs of construction considerably; and

(a) If so, will this consultation begin in a timely manner to enable necessary planning process to be completed prior to the overburden becoming available?

ANSWER

I thank the member for her question and the minister has had a discussion with TasPorts. Group 6 Metals has indicated it is willing to discuss productive use of the overburden material to improve the port. However, TasPorts advises that there are no current plans to consider a second harbour at Grassy. Question (2) is the same as question (1).