Miles Doing What Matters for Cairns: Maritime Maintenance Building Complete

• Expansion of Cairns marine shipyards business reaches new milestone thanks to the Miles Government’s Industry Partnership Program
• $16 million facility will service and repair large ships
• $415.5 million flagship program growing industries and jobs in regional Queensland

A new addition to the Cairns waterfront skyline has been officially opened to provide service and repair facilities for large ships, boosting the city’s marine infrastructure.

Norship’s new building will house the company’s abrasive blasting and spray painting operation which will service defence, commercial and private sector marine vessel customers.

The building has a steel portal design with new housing for a shiplift.

It will be fitted out with two overhead gantry cranes, ventilation systems, a blast door as well as the blasting and painting system.

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Cameron Dick and Tourism Minister Michael Healy opened the facility which is partly funded by the Miles Government’s Industry Partnership Program (IPP).

Norship’s $16 million development will reinforce vital industry supply chains and strengthen marine infrastructure in North Queensland, helping diversify the region’s economy.

This project will boost marine vessel sustainment and engineering services, supporting 32 new jobs over the next decade after it opens mid next year.

Government assistance to projects like Norship’s new facility will help to continue the diversification Far North Queensland’s economy and position local businesses to benefit from aligned Queensland and Australian Government initiatives such as the Cairns Marine Precinct - Common User Facility.

Founded more than 40 years ago, Norship employs more than 140 people and provides marine vessel sustainment and engineering services for vessels up to 400 tonnes.

The $415.5 million Industry Partnership Program is focused on growing Queensland’s priority industries, strengthening local supply chains, encouraging collaboration between government and industry and leveraging private sector investment.

The Project is also leveraging Australian Government support of $7.5 million through the Northern Australia Development Program Industry Transformation.

Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick: 

“The waters of the Far North are a world-renowned tourist destination, with the Cairns maritime industry serving as the primary gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

“But that maritime industry has the capacity to be so much more, helping to diversify and strengthen the Far North economy.

“The Miles Labor Government’s investments in Norship and the Common User Facility position Cairns as a major centre for the maritime service industry in the South Pacific.

“That means more skilled jobs, stronger supply chains, better training opportunities and more work for small businesses in an industry that is resilient to some of the external challenges faced by tourism.

Quotes attributable to Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, Grace Grace:

“The Miles Government is delivering support to enable Norship’s establishment of a new state-of-the-art abrasive blasting and spray-painting facility in Cairns to service defence, commercial and private sector customers.

“The expansion of Norship’s specialist facility is a win for the local economy and the people of North Queensland.

“Companies like this one will provide the vital services to grow and strengthen industry supply chains, including in our growing marine and defence industries.

“Importantly, it means more attractive, local jobs for North Queenslanders.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism and Sport and Member for Cairns Michael Healy: 

“Norship’s facility and expansion builds on the pipeline of fantastic projects taking shape with IPP support.

“This is another example of an important new project being brought to life with IPP support, creating good, secure jobs and more secure supply chains.

“Our communities in regional Queensland know this program is creating high value jobs and bringing new skills and capabilities to established and emerging industries.”

Quotes attributable to Olav Groot, Chief Executive Officer, Norship Pty Ltd.

“The IPP Grant allows us to deliver another key piece of enabling infrastructure in the marine precinct. 

“The ongoing modernisation and capability uplift will directly benefit the region and some 600 suppliers who actively support Norship and the other shipyards in the Cairns Marine Precinct.

“We look forward to working actively with the government to ensure that we strategically develop regional capability. A capability that will not just support the future needs of Defence, but Border Force, other government sectors and commercial customers alike.

“We welcome the government’s ongoing commitment in partnering with industry to unlock these important regional economic benefits and we thank the Deputy Premier, Minister Michael Healy and Minister Grace Grace for their ongoing support of this important sector of the Cairns economy.”

Media contact: Campbell Gellie 0433 987 744