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Department of Transport and Main Roads

Master planning for the priority Port of Hay Point/Mackay

Aerial view of the Port of Hay Point/Mackay
Photo courtesy of North Queensland Bulk Ports

The Queensland Government is leading master planning for the priority Port of Hay Point/Mackay in accordance with the Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015 and the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan.

About the ports

The ports of Hay Point and Mackay are a single priority port under the Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015, recognising the trade synergies, complementary functions and close proximity. The priority Port of Hay Point/Mackay is a critical infrastructure asset that provides vital import and export services for Queensland’s mining and agricultural communities.

Port of Hay Point

The Port of Hay Point is located approximately 40km south of Mackay and was originally developed in 1971. As one of the largest dedicated coal ports in the world, it is a major regional economic hub for Queensland and services coal mines in Central Queensland's Bowen and Galilee Basins.

Read more about the Port of Hay Point.

Port of Mackay

The Port of Mackay is Queensland's 4th largest multi-commodity port by throughput. It services central Queensland's mining and agricultural industries and has one of the world's largest bulk sugar terminals. The primary commodities traded include fuel, sugar (raw and refined), grain, magnetite, fertiliser and scrap metal.

Read more about the Port of Mackay.

Master plan

The Master plan for the priority Port of Hay Point/Mackay is a strategic document that has a long-term outlook for the sustainable development of the port through to 2050. Long-term master planning provides a strategic and coordinated approach to managing port-related development and considers issues including marine and land-based impacts, port development and supply chain infrastructure optimisation.

The master plan looks beyond the port boundary to ensure port-related development is sustainably managed while protecting the Great Barrier Reef.

Master plan for Hay Point

The master plan recognises that the Port of Hay Point is one of the largest coal export facilities in the world, with 85% of its throughput supporting the global steel-making and associated industries. The master plan also recognises that the Port of Mackay is a multicommodity port and major servicing centre for the Queensland mining and agricultural industries.

The master plan identifies extensive areas for environmental protection at Hay Point. These areas include the ecologically important wildlife corridor linking Mount Hector and Dudgeon Point to Louisa Creek and Sandringham Bay, in addition to shorebird and migratory bird habitats along the north-western coastline at Dudgeon Point.

Master plan for Mackay

The master plan also recognises that the Port of Mackay is a multicommodity port and major servicing centre for the Queensland mining and agricultural industries. The Port of Mackay will continue to support sustainable regional employment whilst also connecting the community through tourism and recreational activities.

The master plan identifies extensive areas for environmental protection at Mackay. These include turtle nesting areas at North Harbour Beach and endangered and of concern ecosystems associated with the Keelys Road wetland. 

Master planned area

The priority Port of Hay Point/Mackay master plan includes a master planned area which encompasses a total area of about 8,940ha, 3,740ha of land and 5,200ha of marine area.

The master planned area includes land and marine areas required for the efficient development and operation of the port. The inclusion of land and marine areas supports the management of potential impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and other environmental values that may occur as a result of port development and operations.

The master planned area includes:

  • strategic port land under the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, managed through the Land Use Plan for the Port of Hay Point and the Land Use Plan for the Port of Mackay
  • land within the Mackay Regional Council local government area
  • marine areas within port limits but outside State and Commonwealth marine parks.

Within the master planned area, 6 precincts and one sub-precinct outline the long-term intent for specific areas. The individual precinct approach supports cumulative impact management within the master planned area by identifying areas with environmental values where development should be limited, and separate areas that may be suitable for infrastructure and port-related development.

Priority management measures have been included within the Hay Point/Mackay master planned area, as part of the environmental management framework.

The priority management measures include objectives to:

  • manage development involving sensitive land uses and port operations at Hay Point 
  • manage development and operations on port land adjacent to North Harbour Beach at Mackay to minimise impact on nesting turtles and vegetation adjacent to the beach
  • support continued access to North Harbour Beach at Mackay for recreational purposes
  • inform the appropriate management of the western port lands at the Port of Mackay through a detailed environmental assessment to inform future master planning.

Port overlay

The port overlay for the priority Port of Hay Point/Mackay is the regulatory instrument that implements the master plan for the master planned area. It provides requirements for plan making and development assessment decisions in the master planned area.

The port overlay operates alongside existing planning instruments and only regulates development in the master planned area where additional requirements are necessary to implement the master plan. The port overlay is in effect from 26 September 2024.

How the master plan and port overlay were developed

Master planning for the priority Port of Hay Point/Mackay was a collaborative process undertaken with the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited, Mackay Regional Council, state and federal agencies, and other key stakeholders in accordance with the Ports Act.

The master plan was made on 21 November 2023 and the port overlay on 12 September 2024 for the priority Port of Hay Point/Mackay. This followed the release of the draft master plan and draft port overlay for the priority Port of Hay Point/Mackay for public consultation from 17 October 2022 to 20 January 2023. 

Public consultation for the draft master plan and draft port overlay provided the community and industry with the opportunity to have their say on the sustainable growth of the port. Submissions received during the public consultation periods for the draft master plan and draft port overlay informed the final master plan and final port overlay.

Following consideration of submissions received during public consultation and further consultation across Queensland Government, key changes were made to the Hay Point/Mackay master plan and port overlay including:

  • expansion of the area designated Environmental Management Precinct in the Port of Mackay in the order of 49ha;
  • expansion of the area designated Environmental Management Precinct in the Port of Hay Point along the coastline at Louisa Creek;
  • 2 additional priority management measures introduced for the Port of Mackay:
    • North Harbour Beach to afford greater protection to the turtle nesting area; and 
    • Western port area to inform future master planning through detailed environmental assessment;
  • a wildlife corridor sub-precinct was also created at Dudgeon Point at the Port of Hay Point to facilitate wildlife habitat connectivity.

Further information about the approach to preparing master plans and port overlays and how these operate can be found in the Priority ports master planning guideline.

Community consultation

From 17 October 2022 to 20 January 2023 we asked the community to have their say on the port master planning process. 

Over the 14 week consultation period we:

  • held 4 community information sessions
  • set up a dedicated phone number to answer any questions throughout the consultation period
  • made hard copies of the draft master plan and draft port overlay available at 4 locations. 

A total of 160 submissions relating to the priority Port of Hay Point/ Mackay were received from community members, interest groups, industry and other stakeholders. The community provided valuable insights during the consultation process that were considered when finalising the master plan and port overlay.

During the community consultation the importance of North Harbour/North Wall Beach was raised noting its environmental, social and recreational values enjoyed by the community. 

For more information, download and read the:

Government response to community consultation

Many changes were incorporated into the final master planning documents reflecting comments raised during the community consultation process. Key government stakeholders, North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited, and Mackay and Whitsunday Regional Councils provided advice and support for incorporating the findings of the consultation process.

Specific concern was raised during community consultation regarding environmental protection for turtle nesting activities at North Harbour Beach at the Port of Mackay.

Data provided by Mackay and District Turtle Watch regarding turtle nesting activities during the consultation process was verified by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation. This information and the significance placed on this area by the local community evidenced through public submissions, is reflected in the final draft documents.

The turtle habitat at North Harbour Beach has been determined as environmentally significant and has been protected, noted in the final master planning documents. This information, in addition to the significance placed on this area by the local community for recreational activities as evidenced through public submissions, provided valued evidence-based support to extend the environmental protection required at North Harbour Beach. 

Document register

View the Master planning for the priority Port of Hay Point/Mackay publication set for all our current documents. 

Master plan

Port overlay

Public consultation

Supporting and archived documents

These documents were prepared at a point-in-time and are provided for information and historical reference:

Further information

For more information or to request a printed copy of our documents, email [email protected].

Last updated
26 September 2024