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Queensland's Townsville readies for bigger cruise ships

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The city of Townsville has a 30-year plan for its port
The A$193m Channel Capacity Upgrade will be the first work to start under the A$1.6bn 30-year Townsville Port Expansion Project which has received approval from the Queensland coordinator-general.

‘Ships are getting bigger, so widening of the channel is critical,' Port of Townsville ceo Ranee Crosby said. ‘This will result in lower shipping costs for freight and allow larger cruise and defence ships to visit the city, which is great for tourism in the region.'

She said the Queensland government has committed A$75m toward the channel works which will start next year pending Commonwealth approval.

According to Crosby, the 30-year development plan would ensure Townsville Port, a vital trade gateway for Northern Australia and the nation, keeps pace with global and domestic demands.

‘The state’s approval of the Environmental Impact Statement for the project cannot be understated,’ she said. ‘It is a milestone that has been in the making for nearly 10 years.

'The EIS was a rigorous environmental review and project assessment, so we are delighted to have now received endorsement for the project from the coordinator-general.’