Cairns Common User Facility revision by Ports North has no deadline: Minister

The Far North is turning away “millions of dollars” in contracts everyday Cairns’ most significant infrastructure project since the international airport is delayed.

The future of the Cairns Common User Facility is under doubt. Dean Fulstrom directs a ship into the maintenance yard at Norship's shipyard at Portsmith. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

The Far North is turning away “millions of dollars” in business every day the state government delays building Cairns’ most significant infrastructure project since the international airport, an advocacy group says.

Transport minister Brent Mickelberg will impose no strict deadline on Ports North to deliver its findings on a revised Cairns Marine Precinct Common User Facility after the $387m project blew out to $826m.

In December 2024, Mr Mickelberg said he ordered Ports North to investigate the initial design of the project and report to him if a revised concept could be delivered within the $387m funding envelope, or if the state government would need to renegotiate funding to deliver the entire project for an estimated $600-$800m.

And despite the Opposition on Tuesday calling for a report into the project, which it claimed was due in February, to be released, Mr Mickelberg said the port authority was still undergoing its investigations.

Barron River MP Bree James, Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg and Mulgrave MP Terry James, walking by the Ports North office after revealing the budget for the Cairns Marine Precinct Common User Facility had blown out to $826m. Picture: Arun Singh Mann

“There were some artificial deadlines imposed previously in relation to when this would be constructed,” he said.

“What I have done is freed Ports North from those deadlines and said do the work to the extent that it provides us with the confidence to be able to make a decision.

“You tell us what you can deliver … or an alternative course of action.”

Mr Mickelberg was asked on multiple occasions when he expected a decision or a report from Ports North on the project’s future.

“I don’t envisage a report being tabled by Ports North, that’s not really how this thing’s going to work.”

He also refuted comments the project would be a “game-changer” for the local defence industry.
“That’s not reflecting the conversations I’ve had with the federal government, obviously they would know.”

Member for Cairns Michael Healy and shadow treasurer Shannon Fentiman are lobbying for funds to build the Cairns Marine Precinct Common User Facility in the upcoming state budget. Picture: Samuel Davis

Cairns MP Michael Healy said the LNP was still funding projects in the state’s southeast which had blown out, and called on the transport minister to be transparent about his expectations of Ports North.

“He’s definitely not serious about the project, if this was a priority he would want the details and he would want a proposed document.”

Advance Cairns chief executive Jacinta Reddan said Cairns shipyards were awaiting answers to plan around the evolving marine sector, including investments into defence during a “geopolitically vulnerable time”.

“We know that the shipyards in the Cairns Marine Precinct are currently turning away millions of dollars of business,” she said.

“With every delay in the project, the region is losing opportunities.”

Mr Mickelberg said funding for the project would not be axed from the state government’s budget on June 24, but would be included in the Ports North allocation.

Originally published as Cairns Common User Facility revision by Ports North has no deadline: Minister