Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan

The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050 Plan) is a comprehensive plan to secure the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. 

To ensure the Great Barrier Reef continues to improve on its Outstanding Universal Value every decade between now and 2050 to be a natural wonder for each successive generation to come.

The Reef 2050 Plan was originally released in 2015 with a number of key port-related actions. The mid-term review in 2018 recognised the Queensland Government has completed a number of actions and commitments to meet a range of outcomes for the reef. This includes:

• introduction of the Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015 (Ports Act). The Ports Act establishes a legislative framework, to balance the protection of the Great Barrier Reef with the development of the state's major bulk commodity ports in that region
• the Ports Act puts into effect the Government’s key port related commitments in the Reef 2050 Plan, including restricting port development across the GBRWHA, prohibitions on capital dredging, and banning the sea-based disposal of capital dredged material
• releasing a guideline for priority ports master planning. 

The updated Reef 2050 Plan, outlines one master planning port-related action (MTR EBA9), which says: 'Complete master planning for the priority ports of Gladstone, Townsville, Hay Point/Mackay and Abbot Point in accordance with the Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015.'

The Ports Act is the legislative mechanism which mandates this action.