To:

The Board, Executive, and Shareholders of Federal Group – including Federal Hotels Pty Ltd, Australian National Hotels Pty Ltd (trading as Wrest Point Casino), and Mulawa Management Pty Ltd (collectively, the “Federal Group”).

We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the Federal Group to take the following actions in the public interest:

Statement of Purpose:

Support the establishment of a public ferry terminal at Wrest Point in Sandy Bay by consenting to the necessary amendments to the Crown Lease (established under the Crown Lands Act 1976 (Tas), hereinafter “the Act”). This consent will enable the Government of Tasmania (the “State”), in partnership with the Hobart City Council (“HCC”), to develop and operate a public ferry terminal at the Wrest Point foreshore for the benefit of the broader Hobart community and Tasmania as a whole.

Background:

Sandy Bay is one of Hobart’s largest and most dynamic suburbs. It is home to primary and secondary schools, the University of Tasmania, vibrant residential neighbourhoods, and significant tourism and community facilities, including Wrest Point Casino.

Despite its population and strategic location, Sandy Bay currently lacks access to public ferry services. A ferry terminal at Wrest Point would provide a safer, more reliable, and sustainable transport option for the greater Hobart community, including patrons of Wrest Point Casino. It would also alleviate traffic congestion on Sandy Bay Road, the Tasman Bridge, and key arterial routes throughout Hobart.

A ferry terminal at Wrest Point offers a practical and sustainable solution to these challenges. By enabling a terminal at this strategic location, the Federal Group can:

• Deliver economic and social benefits as a gateway infrastructure asset to Wrest Point: The terminal would strengthen Wrest Point’s role as a community and tourism destination, increase visitation, support local businesses, and integrate with future waterfront development initiatives across greater Hobart.
  
  
• Improve public transport connectivity and reduce road congestion: Wrest Point’s central location and proximity to major educational institutions, residential areas, and public transport corridors would enable a direct and efficient ferry link, reducing pressure on key transport routes during peak periods.
  
  
• Support sustainable, low-emission travel: The terminal would facilitate a shift to electric or low-emission ferry services, aligning with the environmental objectives of the State, HCC, and the greater Hobart community.
  
  
• Enhance safety and accessibility for users: Wrest Point offers an established, secure, well-serviced environment with existing pedestrian infrastructure, avoiding the safety risks associated with traffic and pedestrian movement on main roads and residential streets.
  
  
• Minimise environmental and cultural costs: The Wrest Point site is reclaimed, developed land and avoids disruption to sensitive marine habitats, indigenous heritage areas, and public recreational spaces.

Independent expert analysis has reinforced the case for Wrest Point as the optimal location for a Sandy Bay ferry terminal. In June 2024, HCC commissioned Burbury Consulting to undertake a comprehensive Derwent Ferries Site Appraisal Investigation (the “Burbury Report”). The Burbury Report concluded that Wrest Point was a highly suitable, arguably the best, location for a Sandy Bay ferry terminal on every technical ground except one: the issue of public access to the site, which would require Federal Group’s agreement under the current Crown Lease conditions.

Our Call to Action:

In light of the overwhelming public benefits and expert consensus in favour of a ferry terminal at Wrest Point, we call on the Federal Group to act in the community’s best interest by:

• Formally consenting to the necessary Crown Lease amendments or providing landholder permission to allow the construction of a public ferry terminal at the Wrest Point foreshore.
  
  
• Working collaboratively with the State and HCC to expedite all required assessments, approvals, design refinements, and construction for the ferry terminal, ensuring the project is delivered on schedule and within budget.
  
  
• Supporting the Wrest Point ferry terminal to affirm the Federal Group’s commitment to the Tasmanian community and demonstrate civic leadership in delivering safe and sustainable transport infrastructure for public benefit. By embracing this project, Federal Group would give real effect to Wrest Point Casino’s stated commitment to “bringing Hobart’s best together… for everyone”. 

Further Resolution:

Should the Federal Group decline to grant the necessary Crown Lease amendments or landholder permissions required for the construction and operation of a public ferry terminal at or adjacent to the Wrest Point foreshore, we respectfully call on the State (and HCC) to take all lawful and appropriate steps to ensure this essential public infrastructure is delivered at Wrest Point — the location identified by expert analysis as the most suitable and strategically advantageous site for a Sandy Bay ferry terminal. This includes exercising all relevant legal, planning, and legislative powers available to the State and HCC, including amending the Crown Lease under the Act, to secure public access and enable the terminal’s development at this optimal location.

While we remain hopeful that the Federal Group will choose to support this project voluntarily, the community’s position is clear: the public interest must prevail. Greater Hobart’s residents, ratepayers, and the broader Tasmanian community deserve a transport solution that delivers “Hobart’s best… for everyone”.

Conclusion:

This petition reflects strong and growing community support for improved public transport and safer, more accessible travel options for students, school communities, patrons of Wrest Point Casino, visitors to Tasmania, and all stakeholders who rely on reliable transport across greater Hobart. Establishing a ferry terminal at Wrest Point is a rare and transformative opportunity to reshape how our city moves, connects, and grows — linking neighbourhoods more effectively, easing congestion, advancing low-emission travel, and supporting the local economy. These outcomes are firmly grounded in expert analysis and align with the long-term strategic planning priorities of both the HCC and the State.

We therefore respectfully call on the Federal Group to demonstrate bold leadership and civic responsibility by enabling the development of a public ferry terminal at Wrest Point. This decision is not only supported by independent expert analysis but also responds directly to the long-term needs of Hobart’s residents, visitors, and future generations. By embracing this opportunity, the Federal Group can help deliver a transformative transport solution — one that strengthens our city, supports sustainable growth, and truly delivers the best outcome for Hobart… for everyone.

Disclaimer: All images and visual materials included in this petition are for illustrative and visualisation purposes only. They do not represent final, proposed, or approved concept designs for a ferry terminal at the Wrest Point location. No reliance should be placed on these images as indicative of actual design, scale, location, or features of any future development. All design and planning outcomes remain subject to formal assessment, consultation, and approval processes by the relevant authorities.