- The Crisafulli Government supports far north Queensland council in its bid to create world class marine maintenance facility and drive further growth.
- Proposal has been supported by the Mossman Advisory Committee, as the communtiy charts a new course following the closure of the sugar mill.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland's future and a better lifestyle through a stronger economy after a decade of decline under Labor.
The Crisafulli Government is backing a far north Queensland council's push to develop a world class marine maintenance facility to drive regional growth and employment in the wake of the Mossman sugar mill closure.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering $300,000 to support the Douglas Shire Council's scoping study into the Port Douglas Marine Industry Precinct, a world-class maintenance facility for ships, boats and other vessels.
It's just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland's future and bolstering the Mossman region's resilience by strengthening the economy through diversified infrastructure investment.
The Mossman Advisory Committee has thrown its support behind the investment explaining there's need for catalytic infrastructure to drive future growth.
During Labor's decade of decline, rural communities underpinned by agriculture like Mossman received insufficient support and opportunities for prosperity were left to wither on the vine.
The Port Douglas precinct would service maritime tourism, fishing fleets, cruising yachts, and recreational vessels, some of which currently need to travel as far as Brisbane for regular servicing and maintenance.
The funding will be provided through the Mossman Transition Plan which was set up to support the community's transition away from sugar following the closure of the Mossman Mill.
In 2024, the Crisafulli Government promised more than $12 million to help the region after the mill went into liquidation and has been working closely with the community to ensure a needs-based approach is delivered.
Of the $12 million, $6 million was used to help industry to transport the 2025 crop to Gordonvale, and $6 million remained for investment into the regional industry and the community.
Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the Mossman community has made it clear they are keen to get behind the marine industry precinct, and the Crisafulli Government was backing them.
"It wasn't only farmers that were hit when the mill closed, workers lost their jobs and this partnership with the Douglas Shire Council is expected to create employment opportunities for locals and drive further investment to the region," Minister Perrett said.
"We promised the Mossman region we would support them to find a future beyond the mill's closure, and we continue to deliver on that promise, after the former Labor Government's decade of decline abandoned regional Queensland.
"Sugar remains a vital and important part of the far north, but we need to embrace opportunities for diversification and develop concepts like this that offer jobs and security."
Member for Cook and Chair of the Mossman Advisory Committee, David Kempton said the project was catalytic to economic growth employment opportunity and a driver to reinvigorate the Douglas Shire.
"This funding announcement today supports the regional economy to transition away from sugar cane after 130 years," Mr Kempton said.
"The proposed marine facility whilst not directly related to agriculture it will provide employment opportunities for many workers precisely engaged in the cane industry.
"The Crisafulli government has worked continuously with the Douglas Shire Council growers and industry bodies in the transition away from cane and into new opportunities and this goes a long way toward developing opportunities."
Douglas Shire Council Mayor Lisa Scamazzon has welcomed the Crisafulli Government's support as an important step toward unlocking new economic opportunities for the region.
"Our region has long been powered by tourism and agriculture and expanding into new industries is essential for the Douglas Shire's economy to evolve and grow," Councillor Scamazzon said.
"Once fully investigated, I'm confident Port Douglas will prove to be an ideal location for a vibrant, multi‑use waterfront precinct — a hub for marine enterprise and new employment pathways for our community."
