Master planning for priority ports

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 Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015 (Ports Act) requires a master planning process for Queensland’s priority ports—the ports of Gladstone, Townsville, Hay Point/Mackay and Abbot Point.

Master planning for priority ports:

• concentrates development in priority ports leading to more effective management of port development in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
• efficiently uses existing port and supply chain infrastructure
• identifies and protects land and infrastructure critical to the effective operation and future expansion of priority ports
• facilitates economic development and job creation in regional areas.

Key considerations of master planning include:

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.

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:

View the detailed master planning process

Master plan

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

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

Port overlay

Ports overlays are regulatory documents that implement master plans.

If additional requirements beyond the existing regulatory framework are needed to implement the master plan, the port overlay identifies the provisions which will apply to development. Port overlays include:

• priority management measures
• matters to consider in development assessment
• matters to consider in plan making.

Implementation 

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 continue to work with local government, port authorities, and state agencies on implementation of master planning.

Existing planning and development assessment processes incorporate the requirements of the port overlay to implement the master plan, including under the:

• 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

Master planning has been completed for all priority ports. 

Gladstone

• The master plan was made on 1 November 2018 and gazetted on 5 November 2018. 
• The port overlay was made on 9 August 2020 and gazetted on 27 August 2020. 
• Get further information about master planning for the Port of Gladstone.

Townsville

• The master plan was made on 24 October 2019 and gazetted on 4 November 2019.
• The port overlay was made on 9 August 2020 and gazetted on 27 August 2020. 
• Get further information about master planning for the Port of Townsville.

Hay Point/Mackay

• The master plan was made on 21 November 2023 and gazetted on 23 November 2023.
• The port overlay was made on 12 September 2024 and gazetted on 25 September  2024.
• Get further information about master planning for the Port of Hay Point/Mackay.

Abbot Point

• The master plan was made on 21 November 2023 and gazetted on 23 November 2023.
• The port overlay was made on 12 September 2024 and gazetted on 25 September 2024.
• Get further information about master planning for the Port of 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

• Priority ports master planning guideline
• Draft priority ports master planning guideline (superseded)
• Priority ports master planning guideline (superseded) (prepared by the former Department of State Development)
• Report on public consultation - Draft guideline: master planning for priority ports (prepared by the former Department of State Development)

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