A combined Defence front

ALL parties involved in the shipbuilding industry in Cairns must be on the same page as the city tries to lure multi-million dollar government funding to establish adequate dry-docking facilities.

Marise Payne was in Cairns yesterday for her first visit as the Defence Minister to talk to the business community and find out first-hand what we can and cannot do with naval vessels.

While at least one shipyard at Portsmith can dry-dock a large vessel, such as a naval patrol boat, it is limited to one at a time, which is apparently too restrictive for Defence requirements.

Some argue that Cairns should be allowed to service one of the 12 new offshore patrol vessels at a time but it leaves no room for error.

Leichhardt MP Warren Enstch says a common-user facility with a 3000-tonne synchro-lift is a Defence demand. The lift is capable of simultaneously raising six large vessels for maintenance.

At the moment a dry-docking tender for the offshore patrol vessels dictates that the work will be done at Henderson in Western Australia which already has a common-user facility.

Mr Entsch, who has been talking about the common-user facility for at least two years, says he has $24 million set aside for the proposal. But, he needs a lot more, at least $75 million.

To convince Senator Payne for more funding all parties need to be as one on the deal. Advance Cairns is planning a roundtable session for all stakeholders to reach consensus.

Darwin has everyone on board and is ready to go. It could be snatched from under us if we don’t show a united front. Nick Dalton Deputy editor