The Port of Cairns’ wharves are set for a major makeover, paving the way for cruise ships up to 300m in length to dock at the far north shipping hub.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey and Member for Cairns Michael Healy today announced a $20 million contract to modernize the port’s six wharves, which were built more than 100 years ago.
It marks a major milestone for the third and final stage of the Palaszczuk Government’s $127 million Cairns Shipping Development Project.
The upgrading of wharves 1-6 will complement the widening and deepening of the shipping channel which is currently being dredged.
A new concrete jetty will be constructed along the front of wharf 6 to replace the decayed timber wharf structure with a portion of the old structure to be revealed and retained for heritage and interpretive purposes.
The contract has been awarded to Austral Construction, with many local suppliers being tapped on the shoulder to help in the build.
The wharf upgrade project is expected to be completed by late April 2020, weather permitting.