FLINDERS Island's shipping future was looking more secure than a week ago, acting Mayor Marc Cobham said.
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The 60-day trial of third-party stevedoring arrangements at Flinders Island was last week extended to 12 months, (The Examiner, December 5).
Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding announced the deal between Furneaux Freight and QUBE Ports yesterday, saying it would ensure the delivery of a safe and efficient freight service in the longer term.
Freight links to Flinders Island were threatened in September, after TasPorts accused Bridport-based Furneaux Freight of disregarding safety regulations and dangerous goods handling protocols at the Lady Barron Port.
The freight company subsequently tore up its agreement with TasPorts to handle stevedoring - the loading and unloading of freight - on Flinders Island.
Cr Cobham said that the extension ended any immediate uncertainty about the future of the island's freight links.
``We're also cautiously optimistic that the current arrangement between TasPorts, Furneaux Freight and QUBE Ports will continue after the end of the existing extension,'' Cr Cobham said.
QUBE Ports stepped in as the third-party provider in late September.
Cr Cobham said that the island's essential shipping service would remain in place for at least 12 months.
``The extension took quite a bit of negotiating to reach - the only down-side is probably the fact that someone has to pay for the extra services now in place,'' he said.
``That looks like being a freight rate increase of 2.5 per cent to cover the cost of the extra stevedoring.
``Someone has to pay the costs and usually, it's the user.''
Cr Cobham said that the council and the community were really happy with the outcome as it meant the Lady Barron port facilities would continue to be improved by TasPorts.
