Crane will lift export freight
TOWERING 24m above the Grand Chancellor Hotel, at a whopping 100m tall, the city’s first ship-to-shore crane since the 1970s will arrive at Port of Townsville this week.
It will become the tallest structure in Townsville, taking the gong from the hotel which stands about 76m.
The centrepiece of a $175m investment from the state government, the crane is the final piece of a $30m, multi-user cargo handling facility.
The crane will lead to a 20 per cent increase in berth capacity, meaning more jobs and opportunities at Northern Australia’s largest port.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the crane, which would stand 24m above the Grand Chancellor Hotel, was part of a crucial investment in ports, rail lines and key freight routes.
“Townsville’s economy injects $11.7bn into Queensland every year, so it’s critical we provide the infrastructure that support the jobs that supports the economy,” Mr Bailey said.
“Queenslanders have managed the health impacts of COVID-19 throughout 2020.
“That means we can keep delivering Queensland’s plan for economic recovery including a combined $175m in investment across the North Queensland supply chain.”
Resources Minister and Townsville MP Scott Stewart said the port, rail line and highway were vital to the North Queensland economy.
“Not only are there direct workers at the port and on our rail lines but they in turn support thousands of jobs in the resources sector,” he said. “The more opportunities that are available for businesses to make use of our growing capacity on the supply chain, the more it will help in Townsville’s economic recovery.”
The crane is expected to be operational in April 2021, and would have the capacity to lift two 35 tonne containers.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the crane would unlock more economic potential for the region as the North West Minerals Province continued to be developed.
“The crane will be assembled and support 15 jobs. When it’s finished, it will increase berth capacity at the port by 20 per cent because loading and unloading will be quicker.
“Combined with Bruce Highway upgrades and upgrades to the North Coast Rail Line between Townsville and Rockhampton, that’s 400 construction jobs being supported.
“That means more freight moving in and out of the port at the same time and that means more economic activity.”
The $100m upgrade to the rail line between Townsville and Rockhampton, and the $44m in Bruce Highway upgrades at Palm Creek have been completed seven months ahead of schedule.
Four of eight new passing loops on the line were now complete and would enable travel for freight trains up to 950m in length – an increase of more than 45 per cent on the current 650m limit. While at Palm Creek, crews have finished three new overtaking lanes between Mailman Road and Mackenzie Creek, about 35km south of Townsville.