Private sector interest to build and operate a nearly $800 million maritime maintenance hub at Cairns is now being sought.
Ports North is driving the project to expand the city’s status as marine maintenance hub with state and federal support.
But despite $387m in state and federal funds already allocated, the state government says up to another $400m is needed from private sources.
The facility, to be based in the Cairns Marine Precinct at Portsmith, is expected to cater for growing regional, national and international demand and cover defence, commercial and marine industry vessels like warships, cargo ships and superyachts.
State Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg told journalists in Cairns that when he took office, different cost estimates showed that more than $387m was still needed.
The facility would involve a 5000-tonne ship lift for vessels up to 120 metres long, all-weather sheds for blasting and painting, 100m wet berth for in-water maintenance and hardstand areas for out-of-water maintenance.
Click here for an earlier, related story: naval shipyard given $5m
PRIVATE SECTOR APPETITE
“The private sector have indicated they have a huge appetite to work with us in the last 18 months,” he says.
But he also would not rule out scaling down the project if the target investment is not raised by the end of the financial year.
“What we were not prepared to do, and the federal government had been on the same page, was spend $387m of taxpayer money and not deliver a common user facility,” he says.
But Mickelberg remains “confident” they will find the investors.
“We know there’s a desire for them to work with us to deliver this facility. I’m confident … what you will see is a meaningful capability that meets the needs of industry and community,” he says.
“Neither the state or federal government were prepared to fritter away that money ($387m) … on something that would not deliver capability that Far North needs.”
FEDERAL MINISTER KING
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King says the project is needed as is private investment.
“We know that Cairns is a significant hub for marine maintenance. We’ve seen that expand over a period of time and this common user facility will really take it to the next level.”
She says it will allow them to build a dry dock, ship lift and wet dock with new paint and maintenance facilities as well.
“What is clear is that we need to partner with the private sector in order to make this happen,” she says.
“We know we’ve had a significant amount of interest from the private sector in working with governments of both levels to de-risk this project.”
State Assistant Minister for Far North Queensland Bree James claims that the facility will reinforce Cairns’ role as a key regional defence maintenance centre.
Federal MP for Leichhardt Matt Smith also says the project is significant for Cairns’s future growth.
“It will bring jobs, trades, and families to the Far North and a huge potential for expansion of our city,” he says.
For more details about the project, visit the Ports North Website.
