The Tasmanian Government last week refreshed an application to Infrastructure Australia for the money, which would be used to reclaim 8.4hectares of land to allow the development of a container terminal at Bell Bay.

But Tasports chairman Dan Norton told a government business enterprise hearing in Hobart yesterday that there was not a "high chance" the money would be approved.

"Since the original Infrastructure Australia pot of money was talked about it's shrunk considerably," Dr Norton said.

"I don't believe that we can bank that money at all, that's not to say that it's not possible and that's not to say that we shouldn't be pursuing it like the Government is."

Dr Norton said that the company would be talking to the State Government about a "plan B" if the project was not funded.

"It's a long-term infrastructure issue and there needs to be tripartisan political ... agreement on what should be done and the priority accorded to it, otherwise it may not occur."

Infrastructure Minister Graeme Sturges said Infrastructure Australia had nominated Bell Bay as a priority pipeline project and the Federal Government was working on a national port strategy which could include Bell Bay.

"We are certainly staying on our toes in relation to this," Mr Sturges said.

Dr Norton said Tasports was committed to developing Bell Bay, saying it was "the right and most obvious place".