Behind the scenes: new Spirit of Tasmania terminal takes shape

The Spirit of Tasmania’s new Victorian home is set to provide passengers with a new and improved visitor experience. SEE THE PROGRESS>>

A MORE modern visitor experience is being promised for passengers when the new Spirit of Tasmania terminal in Geelong is complete.

The major infrastructure project is on track for an October opening and the 12ha site includes a new $135m passenger and freight terminal, with the cost carried by Geelong Port.

The works include a three level access ramp for cars to be boarded at the same time as freight vehicles.

The project also includes a secure 24-hour, seven-days-a week freight yards to allow cargo to be collected or dropped off at any time.

“This whole terminal is being purpose built for the current hulls of the new ships and part of that is really achieving this 90-minute turnaround time,” Geelong Port CEO Brett Winter said on Friday.

Spirit of Tas pics

“It’s all about engineering and design of that ramp and in particular, berthing infrastructure. We’ve invested a lot of time working with TT-Line and their ship designers making sure they can cater for those.”

Spirit of Tas pics

The port is designed to support both the current Spirit vessels and the new ones being built by Finnish company, Rauma Marine Construction.

“We’ll be well and truly ready in both cases,” Mr Winter said.

Spirit of Tas pics

Spirit of Tasmania chairman Mike Grainger said the decision to move the Spirits from Melbourne’s Station Pier to Corio Quay, Geelong, was a “no brainer.”

“We’d simply outgrown Station Pier. The facility was,in effect, second rate. We had to do something,” Mr Grainger said.

“We couldn’t stay where we were… currently the vessel sailings are absolutely full, every single day.

“If we wanted to progress the company and move forward and be more efficient, we had no choice but to leave.”

Spirit of Tas pics

Tasmania’s Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson, who was among the guests to tour the Geelong site on Friday, said many passengers had complained about the facilities and the traffic congestion through Melbourne.

He said Station Pier was “totally unsuitable.”

“It’s cramped, it’s old, it would require a lot of maintenance,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Facilities are so poor for tourists, including the fact they don’t even have undercover areas for arrivals.”

Spirit of Tas pics

Chief among the concerns was that TT-Line wasn’t getting its bang for buck.

“The fees that were going to be proposed to be charged were enormous and indefensible,” Mr Ferguson said.

The Minister said said the cost, ultimately, would have been passed on to passengers.

Exactly how much will be saved is in commercial confidence, but Mr Grainger assured the savings were significant.

“Over a period of time, and this lease is of 30 years, there will be more savings … big numbers,” he said.

When asked about fares, Mr Grainger could not guarantee whether the move would make fares cheaper.

“The new vessels that are under construction are not cheap, it’s an expensive product so we’ll have to wait and see,” Mr Grainger said.

“I think we’ll need to look at the efficiencies we have, but we’re giving the customers, both freight and tourist, we’re giving them a much better service, a much more efficient service.”

New drone shot of Spirit of Tas base

Mr Grainger did not believe passengers would be put out by being further away from the Melbourne CBD.

“They can drive off, have a very pleasant drive, bypass Melbourne if they need to or drive into Melbourne or they can go along the Great Ocean Road,” Mr Grainger said.

“So it’s going to provide a lot more opportunity with our tourists.”

Meanwhile, to accommodate the new vessels on the other side, a planned upgrade of the East Devonport port will take on similar features to Corio Quay.

“The same design principles are both being implemented so we cannot just look for facilities that will support the current spirits of Tasmania but indeed the new ones as well,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Devonport will be ready for the new ship arrivals in the first quarter of 2024, the overall Devonport east redevelopment is scheduled for completion 2025/26.”