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The Coalition government has pledged to bolster funding for upgrades to the North Queensland maritime facility, set to support key defence capability.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced an additional $24 million would be invested in upgrades to the Cairns Marine Precinct if the Coalition is re-elected to government.
The funds would support Stage Two of upgrades to the Cairns Marine Precinct, taking the total government contribution to $48 million.
The Stage Two works aim to enable infrastructure on the current port leasehold in the precinct, including:
- additional naval certified hardstand areas;
- all-weather vessel servicing capabilities;
- additional docking facilities;
- longer wharfage to meet in-water maintenance support requirements;
- improved workshop facilities;
- plus offices;
- parking; and
- other amenities.
In total, the Cairns Marine Precinct has secured $300 million in funding, which includes:
- $155 million for HMAS Cairns to support the new Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to be based in Cairns;
- $70 million for NORSTA Maritime to deliver the Royal Australian Navy’s Regional Maintenance Centre; and
- $36 million for TAFE Queensland in Cairns to deliver maritime training as part of the Pacific Maritime Security Program.
“The Cairns Marine Precinct is the place to go for maritime services and this investment will ensure it can meet the growing tourism, marine industry, and naval demand,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“This will create hundreds of jobs during construction, and hundreds more highly skilled jobs once it is fully operational, creating enormous and continued economic benefits for the region.
“This builds on the region’s proud history of supporting the Australian Navy and Border Force and will ensure we can continue supporting naval and other shipping in northern Australia and the entire Pacific region.”
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said the government had worked with local operators to design the wharf, ensuring it is fit for purpose for modern requirements.
“The approach we have taken, in partnership with the three slipway operators, towards the Cairns Marine Precinct has always been staged and planned,” Entsch said.
“I worked extremely closely with the three slipway operators – Tropical Reef Shipyard, Norship and Austal – to fund and deliver Stage One. Now we are funding and delivering Stage Two.
“This investment will create local jobs and further enhance our reputation as a leading marine maintenance and sustainability hub.”
[Related: Government boosts investment in veteran support services]
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