A NEW $17 million Far Northern region Australian Federal Police headquarters and a canine centre are to be built at a cost of $17 million near Cairns Airport next year.

Developer Peter Mitchell will construct the two buildings, which will be leased back to the AFP.

The headquarters are to be built on land on the corner of Captain Cook Highway and Airport Ave, while the canine centre will be at Machans Beach next to airport land in Machans Beach Access Rd.

An AFP spokeswoman said the office building was being developed by PCM Property (Commercial) Pty Ltd and would be leased by the AFP as part the Federal Government's move to provide long-term aviation security facilities at Australian airports.

"The AFP will relocate its operations from its current McLeod St office and temporary accommodation at the Cairns Airport to this new facility, while retaining a minor presence in the existing Cairns Airport annexe," she said.

The spokeswoman said AFP airport uniformed policing and crime operations would be working ntework from the new building.

Mr Mitchell said the state-of-the-art vet clinic, animal husbandry, dog training and boarding facility for the police assault, sniffer and patrol dogs K9 division would be built at Machans Beach, near the Barron River, with the building covering 800sq m and is on 1.3ha of land.

He said the new office block would be on two levels of 2000sq m to house AFP service and support staff.

"This will be a shot in the arm for the local building industry, as long as local prices are competitive," Mr Mitchell said.

"We would like to let trades to as many local operators as we can."

Mr Mitchell said a Cairns company would be appointed to seek expressions of interest from tradespeople, with work expected to start in January.

He said the development was being undertaken by a southern consortium of investors.

Mr Mitchell said Billy Gartdhner and Tom Petrou from The Professionals Edge Hill were involved in the land deals.

"Mr Gartner has been working on both deals for the last five years," he said.

Mr Mitchell nteHe said he had built similar AFP canine centres in Darwin and in NSW.

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