[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Hobart Set to Lose Line-of-Sight Port Management Role_T Morris MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

TASPORTS TRANSFERRING HOBART'S LINE-OF-SIGHT PORT MANAGEMENT TO BELL BAY

Remote Cameras Not Good Enough for Hobart Port and Tasman Bridge Safety
 
Tim Morris MP 
Greens Shadow Transport Spokesperson

Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today called on TasPorts to consult with the Hobart
community after exposing plans to cease using the Hobart Port Tower for
line-of-sight port management in Hobart, and to transfer this
responsibility to Bell Bay where it will be conducted using remote
cameras.

Greens Shadow Transport spokesperson Tim Morris MP said the current
Hobart Port Tower was established to give a 360-degree visual lookout
across the entire Hobart port area, including the Tasman Bridge, and to
allow line-of-sight management of shipping in the Hobart port - in part
because of the difficulties faced during the emergency response to the
1975 Tasman Bridge Disaster.

Mr Morris also said that concerns have been raised with the Greens about
the significant loss of emergency management ability that the Port Tower
currently provides to Hobart in the event of a port emergency, as well
as the loss of a prime visual detection site that has, over the years,
led to the saving of numerous people/vessels in distress after they were
visually detected by the Hobart Port Tower.

"The navigation of shipping under the Tasman Bridge is still a very
sensitive subject for many Tasmanians, especially those who were living
in Hobart in 1975, and TasPorts need to recognise this sensitivity and
consult with Tasmanians over their plans to manage the safety of Hobart
port from Bell Bay via remote cameras," said Mr Morris. 

"Over the years a large number of people and vessels in distress have
been detected by the Hobart Port Tower and subsequently saved - can
TasPorts guarantee that remote cameras being monitored in Bell Bay will
be able to do the same job?" 

"There is also a concern that the removal of the line-of-sight
management of the Hobart Port Tower is effectively changing its
function, which could then signal the downgrading of Hobart's working
wharf."

"TasPorts need to consult the Hobart community before removing
line-of-sight management of the Hobart Port, which is particularly
important when it comes to port safety and especially shipping movements
under the Tasman Bridge," said Mr Morris.




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