Tenders open this weekend for a new ferry terminal at Bellerive, as the state government pushes to get more Hobart commuters swapping their cars for a trip across the Derwent.
The $5 million project comes as daily passenger numbers hit 500 – a big jump from the trial service launched in 2021, which officials once doubted would take off.
Transport Minister Kerry Vincent said the Bellerive Quay terminal would be the blueprint for a wider ferry network linking Sandy Bay, Lindisfarne and Wilkinson’s Point.
“When we started the service back in 2021, we had to do a bit of a test for 12 months and we’ve seen numbers steadily growing,” Vincent said.
The new terminal will include weather protection, more seating and bike storage.
“It is sweet on the eyes … it fits in very well with the river and the quay in a place like this. It is certainly going to enhance the visitor experience,” Vincent said.
“Speaking with a lot of the people that do use the service, it’s an experience also and on a beautiful day, it is a fantastic way to view Hobart.”
Tenders will close before Christmas, with construction due to start in January.
The federal and state governments have each committed $20 million to new ferry terminals and services at Lindisfarne, Sandy Bay and Wilkinson’s Point.
The Bellerive project was approved by the Clarence City Council earlier this year.
Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley said many eastern shore residents depend on the ferry to get into the Hobart CBD.
“The upgrades will only serve to make the service more attractive, as well as add to the aesthetic of the Bellerive foreshore,” he said.
“The Derwent ferry service is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when all levels of government work together.”
