QLD injects $17m in upgrades to Port of Mackay
Tuesday, September 8, 2020 - 11:02:46 AM
Australian Mining

The port is the state’s fourth largest multi-commodity port, and is a major servicing centre for Central Queensland’s mining and agricultural industries.

The works are expected to enhance the port’s capabilities to handle diversified trade, and will include a new tug berth facility; upgrades to wharves one and four; Sewell repairs; and essential maintenance dredging.

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said the Port of Mackay supported 1800 Queensland jobs across mining, agriculture and logistics.

“The Port of Mackay is a place of work for about 360 people each day and is also critical to around 1800 Queensland jobs in mining, agriculture and logistics and facilitates $1.6 billion of trade worldwide,” she said.

“Our ports, like the whole region, have been working hard to deal with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, and we will continue to progress trade opportunities for regional growth.”

According to Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey, the upgrades are expected to provide jobs to the region.

“We’re all aboard when it comes to jobs and making sure our world-class exports can get from Mackay to the world,” he said.

“Over the past two years, we’ve upgraded the Vines Creek bridges to improve access to Mackay’s port, we opened the Mackay Ring Road this weekend and now we’re turning our attention to building the Walkerston Bypass and, after that, the Mackay Port Access road.

“All of these projects are connected to ensure our primary industries are supported with a road network to help their product get from the paddock and pit to our port.

“Queenslanders have rallied together to manage the health impacts of COVID-19. Because of their effort we can get on with Queensland’s plan for economic recovery and jobs. That includes backing our publicly-owned ports.

“Apart from more than 120 North Queensland Bulk Port employees, our ports are a place of work for more than 1000 Queenslanders and support a further 28,000 direct trade jobs involved in mining, farming and transporting trade.”

The Mackay region supports the nearby Bowen Basin and Galilee Basin coalfields, which produce the majority of the state’s coal.


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