Port of Bell Bay - Delivering Growth
Location
Port of Bell Bay, Tasmania
Current Phase
Planning
Context
The Port of Bell Bay is a major deep-water industrial Tasmanian port located in the north of the state. The Port is located within the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone (BBAMZ) and supports a variety of industries, including forestry, minerals processing, fuel, containers, and project cargoes.
Key existing industries at the port include:
Minerals: The Port is a critical gateway for the import of feedstock and export of processed mineral products for its key Bell Bay customers.
Forestry: Bell Bay is a critical gateway for the movement of forestry products from northern Tasmania with up to 2 million tonnes per annum of bulk woodchip exports.
Project Cargoes: The Port provides large laydown areas suitable for project cargoes supporting the renewables industry such as the import and storage of components for the Cattle Hill Wind Farm.
Opportunities for growth
Offering unique opportunities for industrial development, the Port of Bell Bay is located near large flat parcels of land, ready for growth and is not subject to urban encroachment issues.
Through the development of multi-user wharf and landside infrastructure, the Port of Bell Bay offers opportunity for emerging industries, in particular renewable energy, alongside the port's established operations within forestry, minerals and container sectors.
Hydrogen
Tasmania, in particular the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone (BBAMZ) and port, is ideally suited to accommodate large-scale renewable ‘green’ hydrogen production with renewable energy, water and port access.
Fundamental to commencing large-scale renewable hydrogen production is the capability to accommodate suitable tanker vessels for the export of green hydrogen-based products to the Australian mainland and global markets.
Investment in port infrastructure is necessary to ensure Tasmania can capitalise on the emerging renewable hydrogen industry and establish the state as the first large-scale producer and globally significant exporter.
Energy Projects
The Port of Bell Bay is one of few Australian ports with large available vacant land, providing unique opportunity to support energy-generating projects, such as off-shore/on-shore windfarms and solar farms, as well as transitional industries and projects, like hydrogen, alternative fuels and the decommissioning of fossil-fuel assets.
These projects have significant space requirements and specific infrastructure needs that the Port of Bell Bay and its surrounding BBAMZ are suited to support, with appropriate development.
Minerals
As an established industry within the Port of Bell Bay and BBAMZ, minerals will continue to be an important commodity moving through the port.
As these industries continue to evolve, TasPorts must ensure port facilities remain fit for purpose and continue to meet customer demand, aligned with commercial agreements.
Forestry
Millions of tonnes of forestry products transit through TasPorts’ multi-port system every year, including the Port of Bell Bay.
As a well-established industry, forestry products remain an important commodity for the Port of Bell Bay. TasPorts needs to ensure the northern port can provide continuity of service for port operations as forestry customers’ demands evolve and new opportunities arise.
Containers
The Port of Bell Bay is a key domestic container port, as well as being the only Tasmanian port with international container throughput.
The international container trade has seen organic growth over recent years. As demand continues to grow, TasPorts needs to ensure its port facilities are appropriate for its customers to realise future growth and pursue new market opportunities.
Strategic alignment
The delivery of projects at the Port of Bell Bay to meet expanding demand is of critical importance to the state of Tasmania and will ensure a suitable working port, terminal and berthing space for the next 30 years.
Future development at the Port of Bell Bay is aligned with the following government strategies:
- National Hydrogen Strategy: Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy sets a vision for a clean, innovative, safe and competitive hydrogen industry that benefits all Australians. It aims to position our industry as a major global player by 2030.
- Tasmanian Renewable Energy Action Plan: The Tasmanian Government has identified renewable energy as a key economic driver for the future. The Tasmanian Renewable Energy Action Plan (TREAP) will be key to the Government’s vision of utilising renewable energy to benefit all Tasmanians through job creation, helping our environment and driving investment and economic growth.
- Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan: Tasmania will use our existing and expandable renewable energy resources to become a leader in large-scale renewable hydrogen production. From 2030 we will be a significant global supplier of renewable hydrogen for export and domestic use.
- Tasmanian Trade Strategy 2019-2025: A coordinated whole-of-government approach to grow trade (domestically and internationally) with a focus on building trade in key sectors, showcasing Tasmania in priority markets, supporting trade logistics and market access, and building the export capabilities of Tasmanian businesses.
- Our Infrastructure Future: 30-Year Infrastructure Strategy: Informing the Tasmanian Government’s infrastructure investment decisions and ensuring appropriate long-term planning for Tasmania’s future.
- Tasmanian Integrated Freight Strategy: Informing the Tasmanian government’s policy positions and actions in the following key areas:
- Supporting competition and service choice across Bass Strait and beyond.
- Efficient freight gateways.
- High-standard, responsive land freight connections.
- Delivering a single, integrated freight system.
Current status
TasPorts has commenced consultation on its vision for the Bass Strait Renewable Energy Terminal (BRET) at Bell Bay, a transformative project designed to position Tasmania as a leader in offshore wind energy generation for southeast Australia.
While still in the early stages of development, the project underscores TasPorts' commitment to supporting Tasmania’s renewable energy ambitions. The vision outlines a staged development of up to 25 hectares of additional land at the Port of Bell Bay, with the potential to deliver bespoke infrastructure, large-scale laydown and storage areas, and critical berthing facilities. If realised, the terminal could become a vital launchpad for offshore wind projects in Bass Strait, driving Tasmania’s role in Australia’s transition to clean energy.
Over the coming months, the project team will actively consult with key stakeholders, including industry representatives, potential customers, and the community, to refine the project’s scope and align with their needs.
Simultaneously, the next phase of project planning has begun. This will involve detailed site suitability analysis, planning and environmental approvals, and marine logistics viability. These activities will form critical inputs into the development of a comprehensive business case for the project.