A former World War II naval shipyard in Brisbane is to be brought back to life under a $2.5 billion plan by the Queensland Government.
Keen to use the Cairncross Dockyard for vessel maintenance, the government empowered itself to streamline the approvals process by declaring it a ‘prescribed’ project.
It believes the project will turn the 14.35-hectare site into a world-class drydock, create more than 1000 direct jobs and thousands more indirectly.
The project will include construction of a large-scale graving dock, a 6000-tonne hydraulic chain jack vertical ship lift, a 1200-tonne crawler crane, new and larger wharves, and power and water supplies.
The shipyard, reportedly second in size only to Garden Island in Sydney Harbour, should maintain ships at anchor and in drydock, government believes.
DOCKYARD ‘SUITS US’
Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie says that the dockyard is exactly the kind of job-creating project that his government is championing.
“This project will strengthen Queensland’s role in advanced manufacturing and maritime sustainment,” he says.
“The project positions Queensland to better meet the needs of the Australian Defence Force, allied partners, and commercial operators.”
The deputy premier says they will partner with TAFE Queensland and universities to train workers to fill the high-tech, high-demand, defence and industrial jobs.
Manufacturing Minister Dale Last claims the project will help position Queensland as a national leader in defence and maritime manufacturing.
“If approved, this project will deliver high-skilled jobs, grow local supply chains and support long-term careers for Queenslanders in industries critical to our state’s future,” he says.
OVERSEAS INTEREST IN DOCKYARD
Cairncross Dockyard Brisbane Managing Director Ben Quin says the project is drawing interest from overseas.
“The project has attracted attention from key stakeholders, domestically and internationally, including from Australia, the United States, Japan, and South Korea, further highlighting its potential as a strategic maritime hub,” he says.
Queensland Co-ordinator-General Gerard Coggan says the prescribed project declaration will allow it to streamline the approvals process.
“The prescribed project declaration is a vital step in ensuring this project progresses efficiently,” he claims.
He says his office will work closely with all involved to ensure environmental or social considerations are not compromised.
Situated on the Brisbane River at Morningside, the Cairncross Dockyard was established in 1942 to repair naval vessels during World War II.
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