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Department of Transport and Main Roads

Master planning for priority ports

Overhead image of port

Master planning for priority ports is a port-related action of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050 Plan) and mandated under the Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015 (Ports Act).

About priority port master planning

Port master planning guides sustainable development of priority ports balancing long-term economic growth, job creation, environmental values and community interests, while providing protection for the Great Barrier Reef.

Historically, regulation of port planning in Queensland has been limited to land use planning on strategic port land (SPL)—the land owned or controlled by a port authority under the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994.

The Ports Act provides a master planning process for Queensland’s priority ports—the ports of Gladstone, Townsville, Hay Point/Mackay and Abbot Point.

The Queensland Government is leading priority port master planning, working closely with port authorities, local governments and other key stakeholders. Transparent public consultation will be conducted as an important part of the priority port master planning process.

Objectives of port master planning

Priority port master planning will assist the Queensland Government to:

  • concentrate development in priority ports leading to more effective management of port development in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
  • efficiently use existing port and supply chain infrastructure
  • identify and protect land and infrastructure critical to the effective operation and future expansion of priority ports
  • facilitate economic development and job creation in regional areas.

When master planning for sustainable port development these considerations are made:

  • Great Barrier Reef and other environment values
  • port optimisation including supply chain infrastructure
  • policy context and regulatory framework
  • social factors and community well-being
  • ecologically sustainable development
  • feedback from stakeholder communication
  • port history and economic trends.

Image of Priority ports master planning guideline

Priority port master planning guideline

The Priority ports master planning guideline has been developed to help the community and other stakeholders better understand priority port master planning. It outlines the master planning process and matters considered when developing a master plan.

Priority port master planning process

Priority port master planning includes statutory consultation requirements and the preparation of port overlays, as illustrated in the diagram below:

Master planning process cycle. Steps: Notice of proposal, Evidence base, Master plan, Port overlay, Review

View the detailed master planning process

Implementing master planning

The Ports Act provides for the master plan to be implemented by a port overlay, which operates alongside existing planning instruments to guide future development to achieve the long-term vision of the master plan.

The Queensland Government will work with local government, port authorities, and state agencies to guide the implementation of the master plan at a local scale in an efficient and integrated way consistent with the Ports Act.

Master plan

Master plans are strategic documents that outline the long term outlook of priority ports.

  • state interest
  • strategic vision
  • desired outcomes 
  • objectives 
  • defined land and marine precincts
  • environmental management framework

Existing regulatory framework

Review existing planning and environmental assessment frameworks to establish whether additional requirements are needed to implement the master plan.

  • state and commonwealth environmental assessment
  • state and local planning processes 
  • operational management requirements

Port overlay

If additional requirements are needed to implement the master plan, the port overlay identifies the provisions which will apply to development. 

  • environmental management framework
  • priority management measures
  • development assessment
  • plan making

Implementation 

Existing planning and development assessment processes incorporate the requirements of the port overlay to implement the master plan.

  • Planning Act 2016
  • Transport Infrastructure Act 1994
  • Economic Development Act 2012
  • State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971

Status of priority port master planning

The current status of priority port master planning is: 

Gladstone

Townsville

Hay Point/Mackay

Abbot Point

Future priority port master planning

The Ports Act requires that a review of a master plan must be completed at least every 10 years after taking effect. The review must include an assessment of the suitability of the master planned area boundaries. The review must also consider the effectiveness of the priority management measures in managing the impacts of development on identified environmental values and whether the measures should be changed. 

Following the review, the Ports Act requires that a new master plan be made, the existing master plan amended or the master plan remain unchanged. 

Document register

Further information

If you have any enquiries about priority port master planning, please contact the Sustainable Ports Planning team:

Email: [email protected] or write to:

Post: Sustainable Ports Planning
Transport Strategy and Planning
Department of Transport and Main Roads
GPO Box 1412
Brisbane Qld 4001

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Last updated
26 September 2024