Cairns Regional Trade Distribution Centre officially opened

A $10m export hub at the Cairns Airport has at last opened after four years of delay. The project is expected to boost lucrative fruit and seafood exports bound for Asian markets.

A $10m export hub at the Cairns Airport has finally been opened after four years of delay, allowing fresh produce to be sent to international markets.

The 2400m2 Cairns Regional Trade Distribution Centre was initially announced in 2019 with the expectation of opening in 2021 but complications from the Covid-19 impacted progress.

The ribbon is cut by managing director of Airfreight Handling Cairns Barbara Ford to mark the opening of the Cairns Regional Trade Distribution Centre. Left to right State Member for Cairns Michael Healy, Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker, managing director Airfreight Handling Cairns Barbara Ford, and Treasurer and Minister Trade and Investment Cameron Dick.

The facility houses large cold and freezer rooms, temperature-controlled spaces and ambient transit areas, with capacity for future expansion.

It will allow mean fresh produce including fish and crustaceans (live and frozen), avocadoes, mangoes, melons, citrus and blueberries to be seamlessly and safely exported to international markets, especially throughout Asia.

Wolf Lane Distillery manager Gregg Bowater said the hub would have a big impact on the region.

“It’s great to see this new hub get up and going, it’ll help us start export and open new markets for our products,” he said.

Manager for Wolf Lane distilleries Gregg Bowater said the hub will be a great boost for their ability to export product into new markets.

Reef Fresh chief executive Barry Dun said during the pandemic they shifted their business towards the domestic market but the hub would aid a return to full scale export of their coral trout.

“At the moment we are exporting very little as currently the product is flown to Brisbane then placed on trucks to Toowoomba before exportation to markets in East Asia,” Mr Dun said.

“Having the hub in Cairns will hopefully bring the flights we need to export out of Cairns directly.”

Treasurer Cameron Dick holds a Coral trout from Reef Fresh with CEO Barry Dun, Barbara Ford and Micheal Healy

Airfreight Handling Services Cairns managing director Barbara Ford thanked everyone for the hard work.

“We are pleased to have managed the delivery of this significant project for the Far North Queensland region in conjunction with the Queensland Government, Cairns Airport and the local community,” Ms Ford said.

“Starting from tomorrow the facility will be transformed into a hive of action and operations will begin from April 1.”

Trade and Investment Minister Cameron Dick said the centre would partner with tourism to unlock more prosperity for the Far North.

“This centre unlocks the economic potential of the food bowl that is Far North Queensland,” he said.

“In 2021-22, Cairns airport exported food and agricultural products valued at $40.4m and this centre has the potential to push those numbers even higher in the years ahead.

“Every box of Queensland produce that flies out of Cairns in the hold of an aircraft is an opportunity to bring even more tourists in from both domestic and international markets.”

Originally published as Cairns Regional Trade Distribution Centre officially opened