The Australian Government has invested $75 million through a City Deal towards the Port of Townsville Channel Capacity Upgrade in Queensland, which means that work can commence on the expansion project.
The $193 million Townsville Channel Capacity Upgrade will comprise of widening works on the shipping channels to accommodate larger ships. This project is the vital first stage of the $1.64 billion Townsville Port Expansion. This expansion is being delivered by Port of Townsville Limited.
“Having certainty that the Port can accept lager ships is a catalyst to attract and retain investment into the region, just as the Port has underpinned economic development and growth of this region since 1864,” Port of Townsville Limited Chair Renita Gerard said.
The current size of the port’s channel has been restricting access to larger ships, forcing them to bypass Townsville.
Once the channel has been widened, cruise ships that carry more than 3,000 passengers will be able to access the Port of Townsville which, in turn, will boost the region’s opportunities for tourism as well as access to the Great Barrier Reef and outback.
The wider channel will also enable larger container ships to enter the port, allowing for goods to be imported and exported through the Port of Townsville and maximise the capacity of existing infrastructure at the port.
This project will help reduce the cost of imported goods on the table in Townsville and it will also remove approximately 8,230 B-Double trucks from roads between Brisbane and Townsville, reducing congestion and improving safety in the local road network.
“Ships are getting bigger, making channel widening vital. Bigger ships coming to Townsville will men lower freight costs, better connectivity to global markets, as well as allowing larger cruise ships to visit the city, which will further boost cruise tourism in the region,” Port of Townsville Chief Executive Officer Ranee Crosby said.
In addition to the investment from the Australian Government, the Queensland Government will also commit $75 million towards the project together with a $43 million investment from the Port of Townsville Limited.
Environmental approvals from the State and Australian Government for the Townsville Port Expansion are already in place.
The port expansion project is set to e delivered over a six-year period and it will create approximately 120 full time jobs during construction as well as support about 245 ongoing jobs throughout the State. This vital expansion is also expected to inject more than $380 million in benefits over the next four decades.
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Source: Minister for infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development; Channel Capacity Upgrade; Port of Townsville