Plans for a new ferry terminal on the River Derwent at Glenorchy have gone on public display.
It is one of three new terminals planned across the river, part of an expansion of the Derwent ferry service.
Glenorchy City Council has opened public consultation on the Wilkinsons Point terminal.
Planning documents say it would initially service events at MyState Bank Arena, with commuter services flagged as a possible future addition.
Plans include a terminal building with indoor and outdoor waiting areas, a bike store, covered gangway, access road and drop-off bays.
The other two terminals are planned for Lindisfarne and Sandy Bay, with the project backed by $20 million in federal funding.
The terminals are being delivered by the three greater Hobart councils, with the ferry service run by the state government.
Subject to approval, the Glenorchy and Lindisfarne terminals are expected to be completed by mid to late 2027.
Technical reports lodged with the council also reveal some challenges at the Wilkinsons Point site.
A marine survey found the seabed contains reefs formed by the Australian flat oyster, described in the report as the “most important faunal attribute” of the site.
The report said the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had listed the oyster reef ecosystem as “critically endangered”.
The IUCN listing does not carry legal weight in Australia, but the report noted it “often foreshadows” future protection under national and state law.
Sediment testing also found heavy metal contamination, with lead, zinc, cadmium and mercury above upper trigger levels set under national guidelines.
The survey recommended silt curtains, carefully timing any pile driving and biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of spreading introduced marine pests.
A separate engineering assessment by WGA found the existing quay wall, built in the early 1980s, is corroding below the waterline.
It said the rate of deterioration “cannot be accurately forecast” and recommended building the terminal on independent footings, alongside a rock revetment, so it would no longer rely on the ageing wall.
The state government has been promoting a jump in ferry use since public transport was made free across Tasmania in March.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kerry Vincent said this month the Derwent Ferry was carrying commuters in “higher numbers than ever”.
The Wilkinsons Point plans are on display with Glenorchy City Council until September 11.
