19/01/10

Ahoy there! Hutchies steps aboard Cairns cruise ship terminal redevelopment

Hutchinson Builders was today announced as the successful tenderer on the $11.2 million Cairns cruise ship terminal redevelopment.

At the work site today with the State MPs for Barron River (Steve Wettenhall), Cook (Jason O'Brien) and Mulgrave (Curtis Pitt), Acting Premier Andrew Fraser said the project would restore and refurbish the heritage-listed wharf shed number 3, converting it into a modern cruise liner terminal and multi-use facility.

"The refurbished terminal will provide a significant boost to the local cruise ship industry, which contributes about $30 million to the Cairns economy every year."

The restoration work will be guided by specialist heritage consultants, with help from the Department of Environment and Resource Management's heritage experts.

"Items of cultural heritage and significance will be retained, restored or upgraded as necessary and featured within the development," Mr Fraser said.

The work will include refurbishment of the heritage shed, construction of pedestrian zones, covered access to new bus and taxi bays and landscaping.

Mr Fraser said the work would be undertaken by Hutchinson Builders, one of Queensland's largest privately owned construction companies, which has been operating in Cairns for about 13 years.

Hutchinson Builders is a proud Queensland company with a heritage dating back to 1912.

With almost a century of service to the construction industry in Queensland Hutchinson Builders has carefully crafted a reputation for quality craftsmanship, building relationships with integrity and a a non-adversarial attitude to achieving outcomes.

Paul De Jong, Cairns team leader for Hutchinson Builders, said his company was very excited about undertaking the project.

"Original construction on the heritage-listed wharf and shed started in 1912, the same year Hutchinson Builders was established," Mr De Jong said.

"We thank the Queensland Government for providing funding for the project to proceed, and the Far North Queensland Port Corporation and the consultant team for selecting Hutchinson Builders as the building contractor."

Some features of the work include:

• The historical wharf entry off Wharf Street Cairns will be retained and upgraded and the original rail tracks will remain, to demonstrate the historical activities on the site.

• Conservation of the massed timber framed Wharf Shed combined with modern window panels will provide a building design reflecting the history of the site while providing a quality facility for cruise passengers.

• Specific elements such as the Clock Tower structure, the Bronze Bell, the timber doors and central columns, wharf bollards, historical signs and markings will receive specialist conservation treatments.

• New landscaping, feature pavements, artwork and interpretive signs and graphic displays will be undertaken to further enhance the appreciation of the site and its history.