Cairns construction jobs revealed for multibillion-dollar development list
The Far North has been teased for years with huge billion-dollar promises which proved to be pies in the sky. But what can we really expect in 2022 and beyond? HOW MANY JOBS THEY WILL CREATE
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RESIDENTIAL urban development on the northern beaches, in the southern corridor, as far north as Cooya Beach and south to the Goldsborough Valley, is surging ahead in 2022 but what big ticket items are on the horizon?
There are just two tower cranes on the city’s skyline – at the Cairns Convention Centre site and in McLeod St for Tom Hedley’s $5m five-storey apartment building under construction.
Urban Development Institute of Australia Far North Queensland co-chairman Nathan Lee Long said it was unlikely there would be any more cranes this year “unless the market changes dramatically for new units”.
Although a third crane could be possible this year if Bryant Developments receives council approval for an apartment tower of 13 storeys for 55 units, offices, health care services, retail stores on a vacant block on the corner of Lake and Florence streets in the CBD.
In the meantime Mr Lee Long said there were plenty of other projects across many sectors that would boost the economy, including roads, mining, renewable energy, defence and residential.
According to the Queensland Government’s latest Far North Queensland major projects pipeline there are $3.46bn of major private investments committed or planned over the next few years and $3.38bn of public works for a total of nearly $7bn.
Mr Lee Long said there was “nothing spectacular or grand this year”.
“But key is the work at HMAS Cairns commencing. It’s been talked about for quite some time. We should be seeing work commencing on the ground soon,” he said.
The $155m investment of the navy capability infrastructure sub-program involves a new office building, a new naval cadet facility, upgrades to maintenance and logistics facilities, new storage facilities for equipment and small boats, demolition of the existing navy wharf and construction of a new extended wharf and associated dredging.
“There are a swag of renewable energy projects and some will be quicker than others,” Mr Lee Long said.
“A lot of wind farm equipment will be coming through the port (for the $373m Kaban green power hub at Ravenshoe),” he said.
Mr Lee Long said the mining projects and the defence work would be bringing people with jobs to the region.
He said a major focus this year would be Cairns Regional Council’s $215m Mulgrave River water security priority with pressure on the state and federal governments to fund the project.
“This will be the catalyst for growth in the southern corridor,” Mr Lee Long said.
He said the $829m southern corridor road works would progress throughout the year. The government has budgeted for more than $100m to be spent this financial year.
Mr Lee Long said preliminary planning for the $300m Redlynch to Caravonica duplication of the Cairns Western Arterial Rd would start this year.
Advance Cairns will vigorously push for major infrastructure projects in the Far North with the upcoming and as yet unannounced federal election expected this year with the big two items of health and the ports.
“Our No. 1 priority is the marine precinct; watch that space, there will be a lot of things being done, driven by what is coming out of Defence at HMAS Cairns and we will be strongly advocating,” chief executive Dr Paul Sparshott said.
“The other one is the Cairns University Hospital, particularly if JCU can get additional medical places,” he said.
Dr Sparshott said the organisation would be pursuing other issues such as Cairns Airport international route development and upgrade of the terminal, the Cairns Marine Precinct
Cairns University Hospital redevelopment, education and research, coastal roads, Tablelands access, inland roads, food and water security.
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