From the Cairns Post on 25th November 2021
Cairns real estate: Airport industry and business centre plans for commercial operators
Bulldozers are set to roll through more than a dozen buildings to pave the way for a new industrial estate in Cairns Airport’s general aviation precinct.
BULLDOZERS are set to roll through more than a dozen buildings to pave the way for a new industrial estate in Cairns Airport’s general aviation precinct.
The collection of outdated and underused structures will be replaced by up to 10 new purpose-built sheds with access from the Captain Cook Highway – but first new tenants need to be found.
CBRE Cairns managing director Danny Betros expected interest for all manner of industrial uses, from rental car storage and warehousing to tradespeople who needed a presence on the city’s north-side.
“It’s going to cater for industrial demand on that north-side – there are no other available industrial sheds out that way at the moment,” he said.
“This is for anybody for any use, but they are light-to-medium uses only.
“We’re not talking heavy manufacturing, anything noisy or that sort of thing.”
Mr Betros anticipated some interest from operators that would benefit from close access to the airport, but said it was not a deal-breaker.
“Obviously it can be airport related but it’s also perfect for any trades, warehousing, storage – anything where people are looking for industrial space on the northern side of the city,” he said.
“If it’s an advantage being near the airport, that’s great, but they are really for anybody.”
The airport is planning to build the new sheds specifically for new tenants where possible with sizes up to 2000sq m, but typically about the 600sq m mark.
A row of 200-300sq m sheds is also on the cards for smaller operators.
The area is being marketed as ideal for food production, export facilities and other airport-related industries – and a separate piece of major infrastructure could have bearing on who signs up.
A development application has been made to Cairns Regional Council to carve off a long-term lease for a 3600sq m site at the Caudron Ave side of the airport.
“Following the reconfiguration, it is proposed to development the lot for the purpose of core airport infrastructure, being a regional trade distribution centre,” the document states.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles last month announced tenders were about to be called on a new $10m regional export hub to be built at the airport to give “farmers, graziers, growers and other producers and processors the best possible opportunity to get their products from paddock to plane to plate as quickly as possible.
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The facility was first promised in 2019 but stalled while its sister project at Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport was built from scratch and launched into operation in July this year.
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