Townsville Port will undergo a major expansion with a $75 million investment from the Federal Government.
The upgrade will create hundreds of jobs and increase trade opportunities for North Queensland, ensuring the Townsville Port remains globally competitive and capable of hosting large cargo and passenger ships.
Delivered over six years, the Townsville Port Expansion project will create 120 full time jobs during construction, support 245 ongoing jobs throughout Queensland and provide more than $380 million in benefits over the next 40 years.
The Federal Government’s aim is for Townsville to have a port capable of hosting larger cargo and passenger ships, helping to build a stronger economy in North Queensland.
This Port of Townsville Channel Capacity Upgrade project will facilitate that opportunity and secure the future for the Port.
The current size of the channel restricts access to the port, forcing larger vessels to bypass Townsville, including cruise ships, limiting North Queensland’s critical role in the supply chain.
Cruise ships carrying more than 3,000 passengers will be able to access the Port of Townsville – up from 1,500 – boosting opportunities for tourism and access to the Great Barrier Reef and outback.
More than doubling the size of container ships which can enter the Port will allow for goods imported and exported and maximise the capacity of existing infrastructure.
This will mean reductions in the costs of imported goods on the table in Townsville, and remove up to 8,230 B-Double trucks per year of the roads between Brisbane and Townsville, reducing road congestion and improving safety.
