Townsville terminal upgrade to welcome cruise influx

McMahon Services is working on a $5.9 million upgrade of Port of Townsville’s Quayside Terminal amid expectations of a record-breaking cruise season. The bus zone is being expanded to accommodate 12 coaches, up from four, and a dedicated kiss‘n’ride area is being constructed. New seating, shade structures and landscaping are also included in the project. Port of Townsville chief executive officer Ranee Crosby said the quayside works were necessary to cater for an influx of passengers in the 2024/25 cruise season, with large-class cruise vessels able to access the port for the first time. “The $251 million Channel Upgrade project, which has widened the shipping channel from 90m to 180m at the inshore end is nearing completion, which will allow vessels up to 300m long to access the port instead of by-passing Townsville,” Ms Crosby said. “These ships can carry upwards of 3000 passengers, almost triple the number on any one ship that we’ve usually accommodated to date. “To ensure a seamless experience from ship to shore, Quayside Terminal’s bus and taxi rank will be expanded and a dedicated kiss’n’ride drop-off zone will be established.” Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said it was exciting to see the upgrades start, kicking off what promised to be a remarkable cruise season for Townsville. "With a record 24 cruise ships scheduled to berth in Townsville during the 2024/25 season, this upgrade will be pivotal in accommodating the influx of passengers and crew, and will provide a $10 million boost to the local economy," he said. McMahon Services general manager Queensland Chris Bassa said the group's partnership with Intract Australia, an Indigenous owned and operated business, would provide opportunities for First Nations peoples to work on the Quayside Terminal project. “The project is directly supporting 11 full-time equivalent positions, including staff from Intract Australia, with additional employment opportunities created with subcontractors, of which we are using 100 per cent local trades and suppliers,” Mr Bassa said. Works began in July and are expected to be complete ahead of the November 3 arrival of Silver Muse, the first cruise ship for the 2024/25 season. As part of Port of Townsville’s commitment to sustainability, Ms Crosby said an additional $3 million had been injected into renewable energy projects at the Terminal. HE Solutions recently installed 430 solar panels and 60 battery banks on the roof at Quayside Terminal, which are predicted to produce 279MWh of electricity annually. This equates to 10 per cent of the port’s annual electricity consumption.

Townsville terminal upgrade to welcome cruise influx

Industry Queensland

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