The Audit projects that the DEC of ports in Tasmania will rise by 30 per cent to 2031, reaching more than $436 million. This is a slower rate of growth than that expected for the state's economy or for the port sector across the country as a whole.
Four major government-owned ports service Tasmania, with throughput tonnages spread relatively evenly. These are shown in Table 82. In addition, the privately owned Port Latta is used for iron ore exports of around 2 Mtpa.475
Table 82: Tasmania port tonnages - 2012-13
|
| Total Throughput (mass tonnes) | Containerised trade in TEU | ||||||
| Port | Imports | Exports | Total | Total as % of national total | Imports | Exports | Total | Total as % of national total |
| Burnie (TasPorts) | 1,264,739 | 2,371,866 | 3,636,605 | 0.32% | 115,499 | 116,170 | 231,669 | 3.23% |
| Devonport (TasPorts) | 1,344,913 | 2,109,885 | 3,454,798 | 0.31% | 39,203 | 39,252 | 78,455 | 1.09% |
| Bell Bay (TasPorts) | 1,226,602 | 1,190,123 | 2,416,725 | 0.21% | 542 | 3,462 | 4,004 | 0.06% |
| Hobart (TasPorts) | 995,750 | 719,162 | 1,714,912 | 0.15% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Tasmania Total | 4,832,004 | 6,391,036 | 11,223,040 | 0.99% | 155,244 | 158,884 | 314,128 | 4.38% |
Source: Ports Australia (2014a)476
While Tasmania's four major TasPorts-run facilities have a relatively low level of activity in the national context, they serve as an important link for the state to the mainland.
Tasmania's network of ports is unlike those in other states and territories. The majority of throughput is handled outside the capital city and most of the state's shipping movements are to and from the mainland, rather than international. Additionally, while other states and territories have experienced growth in their ports, Tasmania's total throughput has fallen over the past decade. Total TasPorts ports throughput declined from a peak of 16.7 million tonnes of cargo in 2008 to 11.3 million tonnes in both 2012 and 2013. This was primarily due to a downturn in forest product exports. However, there was an improvement to 12.6 million tonnes in 2014.477
The current focus of the Australian and Tasmanian governments, along with TOLL, TasRail and TasPorts, is on enhancing the operations of the port at Burnie, which saw total throughput increase in 2014 for the first time in six years. The Tasmanian Government has committed to supporting the reintroduction of a direct international shipping service as long as it is sustainable in the long-term. Significant investment in dredging, berthing and loading facilities will be required to accommodate larger ships in the future.
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475. Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (2014g)
476. Port Latta does not appear as it is privately owned.
477. TasPorts (2014)