Cairns Marine Precinct – Common User Facility (CMP-CUF)

Investment-ready project sends strong message for FNQ – Advance Cairns welcomes EOI for Common User Facility 

Cairns’ position as a strategic, world-class marine maintenance hub for Northern Australia has been given a giant boost with Expressions of Interest now being called for the Common User Facility project.

Advance Cairns, the leading independent economic development and advocacy organisation for Far North Queensland, has been a staunch, long-time advocate for the Cairns Marine Precinct facility, which includes a 5000-tonne shiplift for vessels up to 120 metres.

The CUF was Advance Cairns’ priority project in its Federal and State government Budget submission calling for major tangible progress to be made this year.

CEO Jennifer Spilsbury praised both levels of government along with Ports North in developing a path forward for the catalytic project which had faced challenges.

“What we have here is an investment-ready project that will be extremely attractive to private investors,” Mrs Spilsbury said.

“It’s co-funded by the government with long-term lease and operating agreements on offer.

“We know from our local shipyards that the customers are there. We also know that our importance in national security is escalating. Our marine precinct is going to be very attractive to Defence as well as to the commercial and leisure craft industries.

“The Far North is the most populous region in Northern Australia with close geographic and diplomatic ties with the Asia-Pacific.

“We are closer to Port Moresby than Brisbane so our influence and importance in national security cannot be overstated.

“Cairns and the Far North with the CUF is saying ‘we’re confident, capable and ready for investment’.

“The CUF, along with the $1b Cairns Hospital expansion, firmly places us on the map. They are firing up our economy and will further protect our region from those big global shocks that inevitably come along.”

Mrs Spilsbury said growing national and regional demand for maritime maintenance, repair and overhaul services would produce more jobs and more work for ancillary businesses with the flow-on effects cascading right through the regional economy.

Mrs Spilsbury said Ports North and Cairns Regional Council had been working diligently in preparation of the marine project.

She congratulated Leichhardt MP Matt Smith and the LNP’s Bree James and Terry James for listening to the community.

“Advance Cairns has been persistent and clear about the CUF and we look forward to seeing this EOI progress.”

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