EVALUATION COMPLETE
The Port of Burnie in Tasmania serves as a critical link in Australia’s national freight network. Upgrading and expanding the export facility will leverage recent Australian Government investments and directly support the objectives of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy by enhancing supply chain resilience, efficiency, and competitiveness. The proposal also supports national priorities related to the renewable energy transition through increased export capacity for critical minerals to global markets.
PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION
The proposal seeks to upgrade and expand the Port of Burnie, Tasmania’s only multi-use seaport, to enhance bulk and containerised shipping capacity. Improvements will address capacity limitations imposed by end-of-life infrastructure and outdated logistics technology, enabling export growth of critical minerals that are essential to Australia’s renewable energy transition, as well as the forestry and agriculture sectors.
INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATION
The Australian Government should note this proposal as a potential future investment opportunity within the 2-4 year pipeline.
OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES
This proposal has the potential to:
- Strengthen Tasmania’s export competitiveness – upgrading and replacing ageing infrastructure at the Port of Burnie would enable the state to export greater volumes of goods more efficiently.
- Enhance supply chain resilience – modernising infrastructure and logistics technology would ensure the port can accommodate larger vessels and adapt to future freight demands, reducing bottlenecks and safeguarding access to external markets for Tasmanian producers.
- Support the renewable energy transition – increasing the capacity of the Port of Burnie would enable higher volumes of minerals exports to international markets, including minerals that are key inputs to renewable energy technologies.
- Drive regional economic growth – new jobs and commercial partnerships would support growth in local industries and communities, fostering broader economic development across Tasmania.
NEXT STEPS
Proponent to develop potential investment options (Stage 2 of Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework) that demonstrate:
- robust demand forecasting and options analysis for each infrastructure component
- how the proposal aligns and integrates with complementary projects, including the recent shiploader upgrade at the Port of Burnie
- how the proposal supports the Burnie to Hobart Freight Corridor Strategy.