Crews have wrapped up the final works on the $127 million Cairns Shipping Development Project, putting the finishing touches on upgrades to six wharves.

More than 400,000 hours were worked on the project, which included dredging the Cairns shipping channel, building an 8km pipeline to transfer silt for re-use and restoring six wharves built more than 100 years ago.

“Around 800,000cubic metres of mud and silt has been dredged and 30 new berthing dolphins constructed along the wharves utilising the largest diameter steel piles ever driven in the region to allow bigger ships and more investment in our economy,” Member for Cairns Michael Healy said.

“The benefits of this project will be immense and the flow-on effects for our $127 million investment will be felt for decades to come.”

The upgrade means vessels up to 300m will now able to enter the port and is expected to boost Defence-related industry by allowing the Royal Australian Navy’s larger ships and US naval carriers to berth in Cairns.

Ports North Chairman Russell Beer said the project team would now work through all the required close-out matters over the coming months to bring an official end to thee Cairns Shipping Development Project. 

“This will certainly mark a special moment for the organisation” he said.

“This project has been many years in the making and the outcomes clearly demonstrate the ability of Ports North to undertake major capital projects including capital dredging works to deliver economic benefits while protecting the environment,” he said. 


IMAGE: Transport Minister Mark Bailey, Member for Cairns Michael Healey, Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt, and Ports North chairman Russell Beer at one of the new berthing dolphins at the Cairns wharves.