Cairns Port Authority records busy year

Cairns Port Authority (CPA) has recorded a year of strong growth, Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said today.

Mr Lucas said the CPA Annual Report 2005-06 showed that not only was the port authority continuing its role as a major contributor to the Far Northern economy, but it was well-positioned for expansion next financial year.

“Cairns Port Authority manages both the CairnsInternationalAirport – Australia's largest regional airport – and the busy Port of Cairns,” he said.

“In 2005-06, passenger movements at the airport increased 4% to 3.76 million.

“The seaport also had a slight increase in cargo movements to 1.13 million tonnes, and an estimated one million people used the port to go to the Great Barrier Reef, coastal communities and islands.”

In Cairns for the launch of a book celebrating CPA’s 100 years of operation, Mr Lucas said the annual report noted that while the demand for traditional sea cargoes, such as sugar and petroleum, remained stable, there was an increased demand for marine tourism and leisure services. This is predicted to continue in the years ahead.

“The Cairns Port Authority is positioning itself to meet this demand, and this year completed a study into the long-term development of the seaport,” Mr Lucas said.

“Planning for the next phase of the Cityport foreshore redevelopment will allow work to start in the next financial year. This will see the start of work on Cityport South, including an extension of the public foreshore promenade down to the Heritage Cargo wharves and through to the Cairns Convention Centre.”

The CairnsInternationalAirport also was positioned for a year of change ahead, with $46.3 million spent in 2005-06 to expand airfield infrastructure and complete the first phase of terminal redevelopments.

“The major redevelopment of the domestic terminal, to cost about $140 million, will go ahead in 2006-07 and take two years to complete,” Mr Lucas said.

“A further $40 million will be spent on expanding the arrivals hall and upgrading retail areas at the international terminals.”

Mr Lucas congratulated the port authority for recognising its major role in the Far North through its contribution of about $2 million towards promoting the region, and its agreement with the Barron River Integrated Catchment Association to spend up to $1 million over four years to help rehabilitate the area through the Green Corridor Project.

Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 3237 1942

Fast facts from the CairnsPort Authority Annual Report 2005-06:

• CairnsInternationalAirport is the sixth busiest airport in the country, Australia's largest regional airport, and the largest government-owned airport
• 3.76 million passenger movements were recorded at the CairnsInternationalAirport
• 49,236 aircraft movements were recorded at the airport
  Seaport management by the Cairns Port Authority has spanned 100 years
• 13,549 vessel movements (including ferry and tourist vessels) were recorded at the Port of Cairns
• 1.13 million tonnes of cargo passed through the seaport
• An estimated one million people used the seaport to go to the Great Barrier Reef, coastal communities and islands
• Following Cyclone Larry in March 2006, the airport and seaport were fully operational within three hours of the cyclone passing
• In the weeks following the cyclone, port authority staff assisted in the recovery in the towns of Babinda and Innisfail.