Send Spirits to Burnie says Aitken

Burnie City councillor Trent Aitken’s latest suggestion has raised more than a few eyebrows.

Councillor Aitken has moved a motion for Tuesday’s monthly council meeting for September asking the council to lobby the State Government to have the new Spirit of Tasmania ships operate out of Burnie instead of Devonport.

In his motion, Councillor Aitken notes Burnie has one of the deepest sea ports in the Southern Hemisphere, saying the new ships are too big for Devonport and the river is too shallow.

He says there would be significant savings in fuel costs using Burnie.

Councillor Aitken says the Government already has a Burnie Port Master Plan which includes a new berth at Burnie Number 8 berth, which he says would be perfect for the Spirits.