Geelong’s northern suburbs will become the Victorian home of the Spirit of Tasmania in 2022.
GeelongPort has reached agreement with TT-Line Company Pty Ltd to relocate the Victorian port home of the Spirit of Tasmania vessels, from Station Pier at Port Melbourne to Corio Quay. The project is an important investment in regional Australia, which will increase freight and exports for Victoria and jobs and tourism in regional Victoria.
GeelongPort CEO Brett Winter said that the deal with TT-Line will create major economic, employment and tourism opportunities for Geelong, the Bellarine and the wider G21 region.
“Bringing the iconic Spirit of Tasmania vessels to GeelongPort is a huge coup for the Geelong region. Each year over 450,000 passengers and 105,000 twenty–foot equivalent units of freight sail with Spirit of Tasmania” he said.
“Now more than ever, opportunities to inject new jobs and economic growth into the greater Geelong region are crucial. Working with our key stakeholders, we need to streamline our planning approvals so that this important project will be ready for 2022”.
The project is expected to generate up to 75 construction jobs over the two-year build program, while increasing tourism expenditure in the greater Geelong region by up to $174.1 million by 2029. In addition, there will be a number of new opportunities for regional hospitality, agribusiness, and logistics services.
The new 12-hectare dedicated site will include a purpose-built passenger terminal building, a passenger vehicle marshalling area for 600 cars, more efficient passenger vehicle check-in, security facilities, public amenities, crew accommodation, a cafe, children’s play area and a pet exercise area.