Blue economy
Funding promises and maritime college expansion has industry in good stead
Cairns is well-known as an ocean playground for those looking to meet Nemo on the reef and the tourism industry has long thrived. Less known is the time, energy and money that has been going into the other parts of the blue economy operating out of Portsmith and the Trinity Inlet.
Warships, large fishing vessels, cruise liners, reef tourism catamarans, and million-dollar superyachts pass through the channel markers each day, and with each one of these vessels comes the need to crew, stock, repair and operate them.
This is what is driving a vast amount of investment from the Queensland and federal governments into a marine sector which will secure Cairns’ economy into the future.
A sum of $330m has been locked in for the Common User Facility to be used by major shipyards to secure naval and commercial fleet repair work and sustainment, with a further $39m announced by the Premier this week for other marine precinct works.
This investment will go a long way to securing Cairns as a do-itall location for the marine sector, meaning one thing: more jobs.
And what do new positions need? People with the skills required to fill them.
This need has also been on the top of the agenda for the state government, with all eyes to the horizon to ensure the future needs and opportunities of the industry can be met with a well-skilled and local workforce.
It was highlighted by the Premier making her first point of call the Great Barrier Reef International Marine College while in Cairns for regional parliament. While there she announced a $16m upgrade to the training facility, the first announcement from the budget to be revealed in June.
The past weekend saw the early efforts to hook new recruits with the diverse array of jobs on show at a marine careers day at the college, which drew young students and those looking for a career change.
The hook is baited with the promises of a marine career, and now is the time to ensure when the workforce is needed we have locals trained and ready to make the most of gigantic opportunity a blue future can bring to Cairns.