TasPorts enables growth at Burnie Port

The crane has been a key feature of Burnie’s skyline since it was installed in February 1994, in response to continued growth in bulk cargo at the then Burnie Port Authority. The crane was the first and largest of its kind to be built in Australia at the time at 680-tonnes, 90 metres high with a 40-tonne container handling capacity and 80-tonne heavy lift capacity.

Representing an investment of $12 million, the crane was officially opened by the then Premier Ray Groom on 8 April 1994 as part of the Port’s $27 million expansion program – the largest single port development ever undertaken in Tasmania at the time.

After 15 years of service, the crane was decommissioned in 2010.

TasPorts Chief Executive Officer Anthony Donald said the crane’s removal signifies an important step forward in realising the Port of Burnie’s growth potential, whilst improving port accessibility and safety.

“TasPorts continues to pursue growth at the Port of Burnie, to support bulk minerals export for existing and new customers, and for the establishment of a potential future international container terminal.”

“The removal of the crane paves the way for future growth plans and provides immediate relief around berth congestion and accessibility. Importantly, it also improves safety for all port users, removing a significant piece of decommissioned infrastructure,” Mr Donald said.

Due to the size and scale of the crane, TasPorts has worked closely with Tasmanian contractor BridgePro to develop a controlled collapse method specifically for this infrastructure, to ensure its safe and efficient removal.

The crane was successfully removed on Saturday, in front of a crowd of onlookers.