Queensland invests AUD 4.5 million to upgrade Brisbane shipyard

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Queensland Government has announced an investment of AUD 4.5 million to upgrade the heavy-lift infrastructure at Brisbane's Cairncross Dockyard, aiming to strengthen the state's defense and maritime manufacturing capabilities and support future ship maintenance and sustainment missions.

This funding, sourced from the AUD 180.6 million Sovereign Industry Development Fund established by the Crisafulli Government, will be used to procure and install a 1,200-tonne crane and a 400-tonne auxiliary crane. These two pieces of equipment will serve large-scale defense and commercial vessel maintenance, repair, and sustainment operations at the Cairncross Dockyard.

The investment is part of the broader AUD 2.5 billion Cairncross Dockyard project, which has been designated as a "Prescribed Project" to streamline assessment and approval processes and advance the reconstruction of a large dry dock on the Brisbane River. The Queensland Government expects the upgraded facility to directly create over 1,000 jobs upon operation and drive thousands of additional positions in manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain sectors. This initiative also aims to strengthen Queensland's sovereign maritime sustainment capabilities, reducing reliance on interstate and overseas shipyards.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie, stated that this investment helps expand Queensland's role in supporting Australia's defense capabilities. He noted that the funding enables more ship repair, maintenance, and sustainment work to be completed locally in Queensland. Bleijie emphasized that this investment builds on the government's earlier decision to declare the Cairncross Dockyard project a "Prescribed Project," marking a significant step in reactivating the dockyard as a large-scale ship repair and sustainment facility. He said the government is promoting industrial development, job creation, and sovereign capability building by supporting investment-ready projects, positioning Queensland as a leading region for defense and maritime industry development.

Ben Quin, General Manager of Cairncross Dockyard, stated that this investment will accelerate the dockyard's reactivation process. Quin said the 1,200-tonne crane provides the heavy-lift capacity required to operate the dry dock's new lift-type gate and can lift vessels weighing up to 600 tonnes from the dry dock basin for commercial and defense maritime operations. The 400-tonne auxiliary crane will be used for on-site installation of the 1,200-tonne crane and to support dock construction and wharf operations. Quin said that with support from the Sovereign Industry Development Fund, project progress will be accelerated, enabling Cairncross Dockyard to re-emerge as a world-class ship repair and sustainment hub in Queensland.