Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk‘s government is allocating $27 million to a road upgrade and bridge to give shipyards direct access to the Cairns Marine Precinct’s common user facility, with an additional $12 million fund to revamp facilities at local shipyards.
Totalling $39 million, the investment is set to enhance the Cairns precinct in Far North Queensland (FNQ) as a premier marine maintenance hub, creating or supporting more than 4600 local jobs, the government said in a media statement.
The $27 million investment will be spread over two years, from 2023 to 2024, to provide direct access from the Norship and Austral shipyards to the Portsmith precinct’s common user facility.
It will fund a 1.2km road upgrade with enhanced load capacity and a 30m bridge that will allow the two shipyards to transfer vessels out of their facilities and into the common user facility using existing travel lifts.
Furthermore, vessels of up to 57m could access the common user facility via the designated route.
For the Cairns Marine Precinct, local shipyards will receive an additional $12 million to modernise their current facilities.
The funds, which will be handled by the Industry Partnership Program, will depend on matched funding from the private sector and strong business plans.
While the $300 million common user facility is being constructed, the upgrades are meant to help businesses keep up with the rising demand for ship maintenance services.
As a result, shipyards and other potential participants will be able to use their current travel lifts to transport vessels out of their buildings and enter the facility used by all users.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk commented on the recent investment, describing it as the “government’s commitment to supporting the thriving maritime industry here in Cairns.”
“As the premier destination for maintenance, defence and maritime repair in the Far North, there are thousands of jobs that rely on the facilities and capabilities of the region,” the premier said.
Palaszczuk added that the $39 million boost is crucial because it will launch a series of revolutionary changes for the Marine Precinct and let everyone know that Regional Queensland offers rewarding opportunities.
In order to help Cairns win more lucrative marine and defence contracts, Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the government is supporting a significant expansion that would turn the Cairns Marine Precinct into a common user facility.
“The Palaszczuk Government’s investment in enabling infrastructure and upgrades is critical to ensure local shipyards can capitalise on emerging maintenance work from the Royal Australian Navy, Border Force and the private sector, strengthening the Cairns marine sector and the 4,600 jobs it supports,” Miles noted.
Once complete, the common user facility will feature ship lift facilities capable of lifting vessels up to 120m and 5,000 tonnes, three hardstand areas and two paint and blast sheds.
The facility is anticipated to be finished in 2027 to 2028 and operational shortly after, subject to matching financing from the Australian Government.
