Infrastructure Tasmania and the Tasmanian government are looking for thoughts on their new strategy
The Tasmanian government is asking the public and freight industry members to respond to its draft Tasmanian Integrated Freight Strategy, which will guide infrastructure planning for the state.
In a joint media statement, premier Will Hodgman and infrastructure minister Rene Hidding say the strategy outlines 33 policy directions across four areas: competition and service choice across Bass Strait; efficient freight gateways; high-standard, responsive land freight connections; and a single, integrated freight system.
“The draft strategy recommends ongoing, structured engagement with industry to inform future freight planning, including implementation of the final Tasmanian Integrated Freight Strategy,” the statement says.
“Reliable, cost-effective market access will always be an important issue for Tasmanian businesses; particularly given our status as an island state.”
Tackling the issues over Bass Strait, the strategy will be to facilitate a dedicated national and international air freight service to and from the state; provide better information to the container market; reduce the number of empty containers being shipped; and push to continue existing the TFES arrangement with the federal government.
To boost freight gateways, the strategy focuses on the Port of Burnie and the development of a bulk freight port investment prioritisation plan and a ‘Western Tasmanian Export Corridor Plan’.
For land freighters, a Tasmanian Land Freight Network is on the cards, along with the development of a ‘Burnie to Hobart Freight Corridor Strategy’ and a ‘Tasmanian Rail Access Framework’.
The fourth area, creating an integrated freight system, will cover a consolidated web-presence for the state’s freight systems; completing a new freight survey; aligning the planning and investment undertaken by TasRail, TasPorts, TT-line and the Department of State Growth; and developing a standard evaluation methodology for freight infrastructure investment.
Public feedback to the strategy will go to the newly created Infrastructure Tasmania and close on January 29 next year.
The body will provide a final strategy in April.