The Palaszczuk Government has approved a business case for the Cairns Shipping Development Project, backing a $127 million jobs bonanza for Far North Queensland.
Commenting the latest news, Member for Cairns, Michael Healy, said that the upgrade to the Port of Cairns would open major economic opportunities across the region.
“This project passed one of the most rigorous environmental reviews in Australia, and now we have looked at the numbers and they also stack up,” Mr Healy said.
“By increasing the size and number of cruise ships and other vessels able to berth in Cairns, the project will provide an estimated $850 million boost for Far North Queensland.”
The Cairns Shipping Development Project involves dredging up to one million cubic meters of sediment from the port’s existing navigation channel and placing the material on two land sites, as well as upgrades to the main wharves to continue servicing the larger cruise ships.
Ports North’s Project Team is now working through the detailed planning, design and downstream approvals phase as well as securing specialist consultants and contractors to deliver the works.
Tenders for the contract to dredge material for the Cairns Shipping Development Project are expected to close on 19 December.
Dredging will occur over a 12-week period, according to the official announcement.
Ports North plans to undertake dredging and wharf upgrade works in 2019 with a final project completion in 2020.