New terminal in Victoria will reduce farmers' costs for livestock delivery

Bass Strait Freight intends to launch a new service linking King and Flinders Islands directly with Port Anthony in South Gippsland (Victoria), bypassing the Tasmanian mainland. The facility is scheduled to open in late October. The direct route is expected to reduce the transport cost of livestock and general cargo by approximately 50 percent by eliminating the use of Bridport port in northern Tasmania with its shallow channel.

The private Victorian port at Corner Inlet is co-funding the berth and livestock infrastructure alongside Mr. Harris. Transport operations will be carried out using the upgraded vessel Matthew Flinders IV, which will be registered at Port Anthony. The one-way transit time will be about 15 hours. Previously, the company had already operated sailings from the islands to Welshpool port, but they faced limitations.

The need for changes is driven by the fact that farmers on King and Flinders Islands, who account for approximately half of Tasmania's total cattle herd, are actively diversifying their activities toward live livestock markets in other states. Due to sand accumulation and shallow water in Bridport, large vessels have only a 30-minute window before and after high tide to cross the channel, which creates serious difficulties for navigation.

Despite the fact that the new plan is drawing criticism in the local meat industry, some producers, such as Flinders Island farmer Nick Caspian, see long-term benefits in it for developing already established links with northern markets.