Push to move Spirit of Tasmania berth from Melbourne to Geelong
The Spirit of Tasmania could be heading to Geelong after concerns were raised about the cost of the Bass Strait ferries docking at Melbourne’s Station Pier.
VIC News
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The Spirit of Tasmania could dock in Geelong instead of Port Melbourne after Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein accused Station Pier of price gouging.
The popular service, which has been running since 1985, takes travellers from Devonport to Melbourne’s primary passenger terminal.
But Mr Gutwein on Wednesday lashed out at Station Pier’s charges as service operator TT-Line considered other options for the Spirit of Tasmania ferry berth.
“It’s quite obvious that they want to price gouge … they want to take every last cent,” he said. “We’re looking at alternative options, that is always something that a business should do.
“No final decision has been made, but we are very concerned about the price increases that have been proposed in terms of the Spirit of Tasmania.”
It is understood Geelong is being considered as an alternative, and Victorian Tourism Minister
Martin Pakula said he would be open to the shift.
But he warned that could make the Spirit of Tasmania “less convenient” for some Victorians wanting to travel across the Bass Strait.
“From my own perspective, if they want Tasmanians to be disembarking closer to the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road, that’s not something I would have a problem with,” Mr Pakula said.
“Only the Tasmanian Government could really answer properly about what impact they might think it would have on Victorians visiting Tasmania. That would be something you’d imagine they would be taking into consideration as they make their decision.”
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“It would be less convenient for some Victorians and presumably more convenient for others.”
Geelong councillor Anthony Aitken seized on the debate, calling for authorities to probe whether the ferry’s berth could be moved to Corio Quay in Geelong’s northern suburbs.
“My preference would be to see if we could try and fast-track it,” Cr Aitken said.
“The Spirit has large vehicle traffic and freight traffic on it, and it would be ideally suited if it could sit at Corio Quay. I’d call on the state government to make contact with the Premier of Tasmania, and strongly endorse the proposition of shifting it to Geelong.”