Australia plans to open terminal for livestock transport from islands — ABC News Australia
A new freight and livestock terminal is expected to open in late October in Port Anthony, in the South Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. It is intended to provide direct transport of livestock from King and Flinders islands in Bass Strait to Victoria, bypassing Tasmania’s main island, ABC News Australia reports.
Direct route to Victoria
Bass Strait Freight operator David Harris said the new service is being created in response to demand from farmers. According to him, the terminal in Port Anthony will be able to receive up to 40,000 head of livestock annually from King and Flinders islands.
The direct voyage to Port Anthony will take about 15 hours. The private port at Corner Inlet is investing jointly with Harris in a berth and livestock infrastructure. The converted vessel Matthew Flinders IV is planned to be used for transport and will be permanently based in Port Anthony.
Harris believes that a direct connection with mainland Australia could reduce the cost of transporting livestock and other cargo by about 50%. The company had previously operated voyages from the islands to nearby Port Welshpool, but, according to the operator, there is no opportunity to consolidate cargo there.
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Problems at Bridport port
The new route is also intended to reduce Bass Strait Freight’s dependence on its home port of Bridport in northern Tasmania. Shipping there is hindered by a shallow channel: large vessels have about half an hour before and after high tide to pass through it.
The company purchased two excavators to maintain the channel, but Harris said this was not a permanent solution. According to him, sand accumulation near the port entrance could jeopardize regular service between Bridport and Flinders Island. He also noted that Matthew Flinders IV is particularly vulnerable to running aground in Bridport harbour.
Changes in the livestock market
Farmers on King and Flinders islands keep about half of Tasmania’s entire cattle herd. Some producers are expanding their operations, buying land on the islands, and finishing animals on farms and feedlots in other states.
Flinders Island farmer Nick Campion supported the new arrangement. He noted that not being dependent on tides at the port would allow the vessel to turn around quickly for the return voyage. At the same time, the plan to transport more livestock directly north, bypassing Tasmania, has critics in the local industry.
