Treasurer MP Cameron Dick announced $30m for Cairns Maritime Precinct, making the total $360m
The final piece of the puzzle in a mammoth $360m marine precinct project has landed, bringing with it the promise of thousands of jobs and a huge boost to Cairns’ maritime industry.
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The final piece of the puzzle in a mammoth $360m marine precinct project has landed, bringing with it the promise of thousands of jobs and a huge boost to Cairns’ maritime industry.
On Thursday morning, Treasurer for Trade and Investment MP Cameron Dick along with MP Michael Healy announced at the Tropical Reef Shipyard an extra $30m funding for the Cairns Marine Precinct’s common user facility, talking up the impact it would have on “diversifying the economy.”
The total $360m will be primarily used to build a 5000-tonne shiplift, allowing ships of 120 metres in length to be repaired and maintained on three hardstand areas.
Mr Dick said it was an incredible collaboration between businesses in the Far North.
“This is an important investment in the future of Cairns, not just in the jobs that it will generate and create in maritime maintenance, repair and overall, but in the impact it will have in the ongoing transformation of the Cairns economy,” Mr Dick said.
“This is important to diversify this economy, and how we ride out the peaks and troughs of the economic cycle, and to put something really substantial in this community.”
Mr Dick said the shipyard was already working with the US Navy and long-term contracts with the US Coast Guard and navy were in the works.
Just the other week, the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey underwent repairs at Tropical Reef Shipyard.
“This shipyard in particular is (currently) dealing with a US fuel barge, helping to maintain and repair that,” Mr Dick said.
“Its not only an amazing story for Cairns and Queensland, but for national significance for Australia.
“This is the final piece that says it is ‘full steam ahead’ when it comes to the maritime and marine industry in Cairns.”
Assistant minister for tourism and Cairns MP Michael Healy said it was an outstanding opportunity and a terrific announcement.
“This investment ensures a great future for our children,” Mr Healy said.
“It’s been talked about for a long time and I’m so pleased to be part of the government that recognises the importance of it.
“To further prove the worth this has to our community is the $16m investment into our marine college.”
Tropical Reef Shipyards general manager Rob Downing said the jobs this project will create makes an enormous impact.
“This facility currently offers 4500 jobs broadly and it’s not unquestionable that the number will double after all the stages are complete,” Mr Downing said.
“This is a resilient industry to some extent, not affected by global crisis’, recessions, mining booms all while being sustainable in the background.
“It’s really going to create generational change.”
The construction is set to begin in the next few years, with $5.6m of the total $360m allocated to be spent in the 2023/24 financial year.
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Originally published as Treasurer MP Cameron Dick announced $30m for Cairns Maritime Precinct, making the total $360m
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