The Tasmanian Liberal Government has a great story to tell when it comes to infrastructure delivery, following our biggest annual infrastructure investment since we came to Government.
TasPorts is investing in new infrastructure at the Port of Devonport to cater for a projected 40 per cent increase in freight and an extra 160,000 customers on the new Spirits of Tasmania. The extra capacity will also cater for servicing the increased volume of freight from the SeaRoad ferries.
The Port of Devonport is one of the State’s fastest growing ports and is already a major gateway for tourism and freight.
Today’s first major contract announcement for the Devonport East Quaylink project – to a joint venture company established by Hazell Bros Group Pty Ltd and Brady Marine & Civil Pty Ltd – for work on the eastern side of the Mersey River, is a great milestone for the project and the port more broadly.
The works will deliver a new berth, a new wharf structure, and reclamation of the area at the existing Berth 3E, which will be specifically designed for the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels.
Importantly, the $240 million Quaylink project will do much more than just futureproof Devonport as a tourism and freight gateway for the next 50-years, it will also have huge benefits for local businesses.
In the short to medium-term, there are strong provisions in the contract for the joint venture company to use local contractors for goods and services – approximately two-thirds of the contract’s value would be spent with Tasmanian businesses.
There are also flow-on benefits outside the immediate Devonport area given Hazell Bros’ track record of engaging all aspects of its business like quarries and concrete batching plants in its projects.
During construction, approximately 50 people will be working on-site and a further 30 people off-site.
We will continue to deliver the vital infrastructure our growing State needs.
