Cairns Marine Precinct
Cairns Marine Precinct Expansion Program
The Common User Facility Project
Background
The Cairns Marine Precinct (CMP) is a leading maritime maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) destination in Northern Australia that is home to large and diverse defence and commercial maritime sector.
The strategic importance of the CMP and the need to provide infrastructure solutions to capitalise on emerging defence and marine industry opportunities has long been recognised by state and federal governments. The Department of State Development and Infrastructure (DSDI) released a Detailed Business Case (DBC) for the CMP in December 2021.
The DBC confirmed that the growth of the maritime MRO sector is key to the economic diversification of the region, and that improving infrastructure and port upgrades will be important given the increasing focus on the geo-political environment in the Indo-Pacific region. The DBC recommended the development of a maritime MRO Common User Facility (CUF).
The Facility
To maintain the CMP’s competitive edge, attract future sustainment contracts and capitalise on emerging defence and marine industry opportunities, the Queensland and Australian Government have each committed $180 million towards the construction of a CUF.
The CUF will address infrastructure constraints, optimise waterfront land use and cater to the growing demand for maritime MRO services in Australia and internationally. The CUF will realise the strategic vision of local, state and federal governments and consolidate the Port of Cairns’ position as a centre of excellence in the northern Australia maritime industry.
The CMP program is now being led by Ports North with the CUF planned to be operational at the end of 2028. The CUF will be located at Cook Street and will be owned by Ports North. It will include a 5000-tonne shiplift capable of lifting vessels up to 120 metres in length, three hardstand areas, two all-weather, climate-controlled sheds for blasting and painting vessels, and additional capacity for wet berths.
Benefits to the region
The CUF is expected to generate a range of benefits for the marine, defence and manufacturing industries in the region, including:
- enhance capabilities and competitiveness of the CMP to remain a leading maritime centre in Northern Australia
- strengthen and diversify the Far North Queensland economy
- reduce the economic fluctuations of a regional economy which is currently underpinned by tourism
- attract domestic and international investment and re-investment in downstream industries in the region
- support the current and future Defence capability plans to enable the Department of Defence to meet its national security obligations to Government
- advance the Queensland Defence Industries 10-year roadmap
- advance the Queensland Superyacht Strategy 2018-2028
- leverage the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to increase superyacht visitation
- increase tourism spend in Cairns from increased length of stay for superyacht crew
- increase skilled job attraction and retention
- increase student interest in undertaking maritime and related trade qualifications
- enhance STEM education opportunities
- increased capacity and capability for developing the shipbuilding industry in Cairns
- provide potential efficiencies for cross-over with other industries, such as aerospace.
For more information, please contact the CMP Expansion team at cmpenquiry@portsnorth.com.au
