The discovery of critically endangered spotted handfish at Lords Beach has thrown a spanner in the works for Hobart’s planned Sandy Bay ferry terminal.
The find means the project must now be referred to the federal government for environmental assessment, pushing the expected completion date back to June 2028.
Spotted handfish are found nowhere else in the world apart from Tasmania’s Derwent Estuary and a handful of nearby bays.
Just several colonies are believed to exist, with an estimated population of just 3,000 individuals remaining in the wild.
The small fish, which grow to about 12 centimetres, are known for ‘walking’ along the seafloor using modified pectoral fins that resemble hands.
They were the first marine fish to be listed as critically endangered under federal environmental protection laws.
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the council remained committed to the project despite the setback.
“This is an important project for Hobart’s future and while we’d like it to be delivered faster, it’s necessary to get it right,” she said.
“We’re working closely with our partners and the community to ensure the new ferry terminals meet residents’ needs while protecting the ecology of the Derwent River.”
The Sandy Bay terminal is part of a $20 million federally funded expansion of Hobart’s ferry network, which also includes new stops at Lindisfarne and Glenorchy’s Wilkinson’s Point.
Those terminals remain on track for completion in late 2027.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kerry Vincent said the government remained committed to delivering the expanded network despite the challenges.
“The success of the Bellerive service has shown commuters are eager to use alternative transport options as they head into work,” he said.
The existing Bellerive ferry service has carried more than 360,000 passengers since launching as a trial in 2021, with around 500 commuters using it each day.
A referral under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) is expected in the coming months.
