STALLED ON RANGE
Kuranda road report a 30-year dead end for major upgrade
FNQ leaders have been left “dumbfounded” by a new report stating no alternative route to address a crash plagued, economic bottleneck on the Kuranda Range Road will be needed for 30 years.
Released Friday the $1.6m Cairns to Northern Tablelands Access Strategy has been developed to “guide the planning delivery of future connectivity” of the four main routes from the coast to the Tablelands between Innisfail and Mossman. The report states the Kuranda Range Rd will not reach full capacity until 2051 but critics say it’s at capacity now and it’s just a stalling tactic.
PLANS for new wharves within the Cairns marine precinct to accommodate a 5000-tonne shiplift are under way as the state government lays a foundation for a “very significant” marine development spend.
On Friday, Deputy Premier Steven Miles announced the release of the Cairns Marine Precinct Infrastructure Investment business case from the Tropical Reef Shipyard.
Described as a “game-changing” development by Cairns marine stakeholders at the announcement, the common user facility is expected to deliver a ship-lift to accommodate vessels up to 120m at the Fearnley St public boat ramp, painting bays, blasting facilities and hardstands to be used in the repair and maintenance of defence, commercial and recreational vessels.
Mr Miles said it was an opportune time to shore up funding, expected to be delivered through a federalstate 80-20 split.
“With a federal election just around the corner, now is the time to lock in those commitments from both parties at a federal level,” he said.
“I understand the tenders for the new wharves are out at the moment, but this longer-term vision will require very significant investment.”
Advance Cairns will be advocating for $300m to $400m from both tiers of government – based on the cost of a Darwin port expansion.
Major marine players Tropical Reef Shipyard, Norship and Austal have backed the investment, in what had Ports North chairman Russell Beer convinced of Cairns’ jobs boom.
“This really is a game-changer,” he said. “I think realistically (we are) talking about thousands of new jobs over the next decade.”
Tropical Reef Shipyard general manager Robert Downing said positions would provide generations of income for Cairns workers.
“(The project) will put the port in line with the other states and really take the marine precinct to its full benefits and opportunities,” he said.
Advance Cairns executive chairman Nick Trompf described the marine vision as a “step-change opportunity” for the region.
“This can transform what has been a great industry over many, many decades into a whole new era of growth,” he said.
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch welcomed working with the state government.
“Let’s see what they are going to put on the table and I’m sure there’s money from the Feds,” he said.