- Queensland’s only provider of stinger net swimming enclosures is relocating to a bigger and better Cairns facility.
- Uninet Enclosure Systems (Uninet) manufacturers, maintains and repairs floating net enclosures which are supplied to local councils to protect swimmers from box jellyfish along the Queensland coast.
- Construction of the new facility is expected to begin in early-to-mid 2024 and be complete by the end of 2024.
Floating net enclosures protecting ocean swimmers from box jellyfish and sharks along Queensland beaches will soon be manufactured, repaired and maintained at a brand new Cairns facility.
Uninet Enclosure Systems (Uninet) will relocate from two separate premises in central Cairns to a larger combined facility in the Cairns South State Development Area.
The company is Queensland’s only supplier of stinger net enclosures which are provided to local councils on a hire basis.
The $1 million project will provide 10 jobs during construction and eight operational jobs.
The Palaszczuk Government has helped get the project off the ground by facilitating the new location. The Cairns South SDA has been established by Queensland’s Coordinator-General and the Coordinator-General has provided planning approval for the facility.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier Steven Miles:
“Uninet is one of Queensland’s great business success stories and it is continuing to grow, supporting good secure jobs locally in Cairns,” Mr Miles said.
“Over more than 30 years, Uninet has grown from a research initiative into a company protecting swimmers along the Queensland coastline in locations like Cairns, the Whitsundays and the Gold Coast.
“Thanks to assistance from the Palaszczuk Government, Uninet will soon be able to relocate to a bigger and better purpose-built facility in the Cairns South State Development Area.
“The new premises will provide more manufacturing capacity and scope to explore opportunities for manufacturing enclosures for export to locations like Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia.”
Quotes attributable to Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt:
“The Queensland Government is proud to have established the Cairns South SDA to grow industry in Far North Queensland and to be assisting great local businesses to find the space they need,” Mr Pitt said.
“The Cairns South SDA is located in Edmonton and Gordonvale and was established to facilitate economic growth and diversification of the Cairns economy as well as job creation to support the long-term needs of the Cairns region.
“I look forward to Uninet and other local businesses establishing here.”
Quotes attributable to Assistant Tourism Minister and Member for Cairns Michael Healy:
“Uninet help locals and visitors alike safely swim at many beautiful Queensland beaches, which is great for our lifestyle and tourism,” Mr Healy said.
“They will have great new facilities including areas for washdown, inspection, cleaning and maintenance.”
Quotes attributable to Uninet Manager Kim Moss:
“We’re looking forward to being able to consolidate our business on one site where we can grow and explore new opportunities, including for the export market,” Mr Moss said.
“The relocation to the Cairns South SDA will give us a purpose-built facility and the room we need for expansion.
“We currently manufacture and supply nets on a permanent-hire basis to Queensland councils in around 30 locations.
“We’re fielding enquiries from overseas markets and we’re keen to further explore the opportunities that the new facility will make possible for us.”
Explainer/fast fact and or further information:
Queensland currently has 11 SDAs in locations including the Cairns South State Development Area.
The Cairns South SDA was established to facilitate economic growth and diversification of the Cairns economy as well as job creation to support the long-term needs of the Cairns region.
The 1159-hectare SDA is located between Edmonton and Gordonvale and provides land for regionally significant industrial development.
