Hangar to lure high-flyers to the Far North, Advance Cairns says, subject to LNP commitment

Advance Cairns has called on the LNP to commit to building a $45m common user hangar, if the party is swept into power this month, declaring that further investment in the Far North’s aviation industry is vital to growing the region’s economy.

Advance Cairns chief executive Jacinta Reddan wants bi-partisan support for the proposed $45m common user hangar at Cairns Airport. Picture: Brendan Radke

Advance Cairns has called on the LNP to commit to building a $45m common user hangar, if the party is swept into power this month, declaring that further investment in the Far North’s aviation industry is vital to growing the region’s economy.

The proposed 10,000sqm facility – estimated to create around 100 jobs during construction – would increase the region’s capacity to service and maintain aircraft throughout the Asia Pacific region, the Far North advocacy group’s CEO, Jacinta Reddan said.

The LNP’s candidate for Cairns, Yolonde Entsch did not return calls on Monday but gave no indication that an election commitment was forthcoming at a debate on Friday, instead opting to discuss youth crime.

With Labor already announcing it backed the project, a Coalition commitment would effectively guarantee its go-ahead, Ms Reddan said.

“We call on the LNP to match the $45m in funding that has been promised by the Labor government to adopt a similar model at the airport, so that we can build a general aviation hangar,” she said.

“This further diversifies the economy into … aviation so that we’re much broader and much more secure and we have a prosperous and thriving economy into the future.”

A conceptual render of the 10,000sqm common use maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hangar, a key piece of the eastern aviation precinct.

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said the hangar had the potential to lure more business to the region.

“Thousands of aircraft are operating in the south Pacific region and we already have a manufacturing and maintenance hub at Cairns airport,” Mr Healy said

“This commitment … will ensure stronger job opportunities and more growth for our region.”

The LNP have made no commitment in any way shape or form to any manufacturing or growth. That should be concerning.”

Meanwhile, works on the $360m Common User Facility at the Cairns Marine Precinct have started with the project slated to be finished by 2028.

“The Cairns Marine Precinct already supports more than 4600 jobs,” Mr Healy said.

“This project will ultimately deliver a new shiplift for Carins which will be game-

changing for the Cairns maritime industry and the Cairns economy.”

The CUF will feature state-of-the-art facilities including two climate-controlled sheds, allowing for the 24-hour operation of blasting and painting vessels.

A Self-Propelled Modular Transporter – a platform heavy hauler capable of manoeuvring large vessels from the shiplift to the sheds and other areas – will also be built inside the CUF.

Originally published as Hangar to lure high-flyers to the Far North, Advance Cairns says, subject to LNP commitment