Queensland supports Cairncross Dockyard redevelopment with crane investment

The Queensland Government has committed AUD 4.5 million (EUR 2.76 million) towards new maritime infrastructure at Brisbane's Cairncross Dockyard, supporting a wider redevelopment programme valued at AUD 2.5 billion (EUR 1.54 billion). The funding will be provided through the Sovereign Industry Development Fund and used to acquire and install two heavy-lift cranes for defence and commercial vessel maintenance activities.
The investment forms part of the broader redevelopment of the historic dockyard, which has been designated a prescribed project to accelerate the approvals process. Plans include the installation of a 1,200-tonne crane and a 400-tonne support crane, providing the lifting capacity required for large-scale shiprepair, maintenance and sustainment work.
Located on Brisbane's south side, Cairncross Dockyard has supported maritime and defence operations since 1942. Once redevelopment is complete, the project is expected to create more than 1,000 direct jobs while supporting additional employment across manufacturing, logistics and supply chains.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the funding would allow more maritime work to remain within the state. "Queensland has an important role to play in supporting Australia’s defence capability, and this funding will help strengthen that by enabling more ship repair, maintenance and sustainment work to be undertaken right here in Queensland," he said.
Cairncross Dockyard managing director Ben Quin said: "The installation of a 1,200-tonne crane will provide the heavy-lift capability needed to operate the new lift-in/lift-out (LILO) dock gate for the graving dock and will also provide the capacity to lift vessels up to 600 tonnes from the graving dock pool to support commercial and defence maritime operations."