Posted on June 13, 2017
By Chris Calcino, Cairns Post
DREDGING of Trinity Inlet could begin next year with the State Government pledging $120 million to bring a new breed of cruise ships into the Port of Cairns.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt (right) will put to rest years of delays and uncertainty when he unveils the Cairns Shipping Development funding bombshell today.
The project will widen and deepen the existing Trinity Inlet channel and swing basin to accommodate ships up to 300m in length and open new opportunities to expand the HMAS Cairns naval base.
Mr Pitt has committed $60 million in the 2017-18 Budget, with government-owned Ports North to provide funds through retention of dividends, existing cash balances and loans.
The remainder will be spent in the 2018-19 financial year.
“The forecast demand is for up to 37 new cruise ships through the Port of Cairns per year by 2026, increasing to 59 with home-porting and the facilitation of the Brisbane Cruise Terminal currently being assessed as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s market-led proposal framework,” Mr Pitt said.
Dredging remains contingent on Queensland’s Co-ordinator-General approving Ports North’s amended environmental impact statement, due for submission the end of the month.
That process has been delayed repeatedly since 2014.
Work could begin after the wet season in 2018, depending on bids received through a competitive tender process.
Ports Minister Mark Bailey said the project would be strictly managed under laws prohibiting the disposal of dredge material at sea.
A prawn farm at Yorkeys Knob is being assessed as a potential dumping site.
“The scope of the project was revised to significantly reduce the environmental footprint and dredging requirements, with spoil to be placed on land, and the cost of the project also reduced to approximately $120 million,” he said.
“This represents a common sense outcome – it’s good for the environment and makes economic sense.”
Barron River MP Craig Crawford said the re-scoped project slashed costs from the LNP’s original $360 million estimate.
“Not only are we allowing more ships of a greater size into our port, we’re doing it for a third of the price,” he said.
Source: Cairns Post
