Vision for city port altered

The future development area of Breakwater Island will be a hardstand for containers and general cargo under plans revealed by the State Government, the Townsville Bulletin reported.

The turnaround in the vision for the area, first proposed by legendary Queensland developer Sir Leslie Thiess, is outlined in the government's Wharf 10 Cruise and Military Terminal report released this week.

While the report mostly details plans for the upgrade of the port's existing berth 10 for cruise and military ships, it also shows plans to extend the harbour west beyond the existing western breakwall in front of Jupiters casino.

The report says the $78.2 million development of Wharf 10 will ensure that Townsville can retain and grow tourism and realise the significant direct and indirect economic benefits generated from cruise and military vessels visits.

It also details more than $558 million of other port and waterfront-related developments currently under way or planned.

That included a $121.4 million Wharf 10 Stage 2 to provide new general cargo berths funded by the port, State and Federal governments and proposed for completion in 2014.

Other projects included the port access road, marine precinct and new outer harbour berth.
(Source:www.cargonewsasia.com)