PORT’S $ 27M BOOST
PORT of Townsville will spend $ 27.3 million to build new cranes and cargo- handling infrastructure after receiving approval from the Queensland Government.
During a tour of the port yesterday, Deputy Premier and Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad said the investment would create jobs and support the efficient operation of container and cargo handling berths.
The latest investment in Berth 4 comes after a $ 40.7 million redevelopment at the berth, which is expected to be completed next month.
Ms Trad said the Government’s vision was to make the Townsville port the most “competitive and efficient multi- cargo port” anywhere in Australia and the closest to the fast- growing economic zone of Asia.
“Berth 4 is expected to be finished by early next year and the additional terminal storage capacity and infrastructure will attract future growth for the port and help to support our North Queensland exporters,” she said.
Port of Townsville acting chief executive officer Claudia Brumme- Smith said the latest investment signalled to the market that the port would have state- of- the- art equipment for its newly upgraded Berth 4.
“It’s important companies know when they bring their container- general cargo ships here they will be turned around fast and efficiently,” she said. “We as a port want to compete with the larger capital city ports so we can attract general cargo directly into Townsville for North Queensland.”
The new cranes will arrive in the next 12 months and shipto- shore cranes in the next two years.
About 35 direct jobs will be created during the construction phase and three positions to operate the berth.
Civil Plus won the contract two years ago to redevelop Berth 4.
That project involved raising the deck by about 3m and extending the quay line to accommodate larger ships.
Townsville MP Scott Stew- art said the city was built “on the back of the port” more than 150 years ago.
“This port will help drive our economy and that’s why we’re future- proofing this port to make sure it becomes not only the biggest in North Queensland, but the most commercially viable in North Australia,” he said.