Toll plans to rebuild its state-of-the-art yard at Newstead to facilitate the company’s growing workload.

Launceston Chamber of Commerce chief executive Jan Davis praised Toll for its investment in the city.

The group has lodged a development application with the Launceston City Council to extend and refurbish existing buildings, construct new buildings and a rail link on its eight-hectare site off Dowling Street at Newstead. 

Ms Davis expected the development would grow capacity in the transport sector.

“We need a centralised transport and logistics centre in the north,” she said 

“We’re centrally placed in the region.”

Ms Davis, the former head of the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, said there was an increased use of road and rail in the agricultural industry. 

“Just using that sector alone, if we’re expecting to double agricultural output by 2030 – stuff has got to be moved, imports and exports,” she said. 

“There’s is a clear need for more transport, and logistics, particularly.”

For several years Toll Group has been searching for an alternative site to establish a transport hub in Tasmania’s north.

Ms Davis said Toll’s private investment came at a time of increasing government stimulation in Launceston.

She said there was positivity in the community. 

“People are really upbeat in Launceston at the moment,” she said. 

Ms Davis said high levels of government investment was often followed by an increase in private investment.

“It’s a bit monkey see, monkey do,” she said.

Despite being buoyed by Toll Group’s investment, Ms Davis said there were some challenges for the city. 

“One of the things we need to be cautious about, in any expanded heavy activity in the city centre, is how we manage the through traffic and the transport routes,” she said. 

Have a say on the development before May 2.