In 2022 the doors opened to GeelongPort’s new Spirit of Tasmania marine and passenger terminal in North Geelong.

The site at Corio Quay Road, covering 12 Ha, was chosen to meet the future growth plans for passenger and freight services between the mainland and Tasmania. The project has achieved more efficiency in vessel operation, turn-around times and customer experience.

The passenger terminal of approximately 3,900sqm was developed from a repurposed part of an existing cargo shed. Approximately half of the existing shed houses passengers, offices for TT Lines staff and staff accommodation for in-between sailings, whilst the other half will be for undercover passenger vehicle staging.

Retaining the existing structure contributed to improve the overall embodied carbon, while the proposed façade and roof were drastically improved to incorporate enhanced thermal requirement combined with stringent acoustic properties for staff accomodation. Heat recovery ventilation, LED lighting and enhanced Building Management System zoning provided the building with high efficiency systems improving the customer experience.

Large areas of roof resulted into the catchment areas for roof drainage outside the Australian Standard prescribed methodology for design of roof drainage. CSIRO method of design was used to achieve the required performance for drainage.