Department of State Development

Priority port master planning Sustainable development of the priority Port of Gladstone | Australia | 2017 Master planning for the priority Por t of Gladstone

The priority Port of Gladstone is Queensland’s largest multi-commodity port and plays a critical role in supporting the state’s economy. Through master planning under the Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015 (Ports Act) the is demonstrating its commitment to supporting its sustainable development, jobs creation in the region and growth of the state’s trade and investment opportunities.

The priority Port of Gladstone is representing approximately The master plan considers issues located 525 kilometres from 34 per cent of the state’s total beyond strategic port land, including and operates within the Great Barrier trade port throughput. marine and land-based impacts, Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA). port and supply chain infrastructure The state government is delivering The priority port is a major economic capacity and connectivity and a master plan for the priority hub for and economic, community and Port of Gladstone in accordance handles over 30 different products environmental interests. with the Ports Act. including the export of coal, alumina, cement, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), The master plan will establish petroleum and grain. a long-term strategic outlook for the port and the surrounding land In 2015-16, the port had a total and marine areas vital for its throughput of 115.9 million tonnes, sustainable development.

Photo courtesy QGC Pty Limited Port of Gladstone Located 525 kilometres north of Brisbane, the Port of Gladstone covers 4 448 hectares of land, including more than 700 hectares of reclaimed land. Six main berth centres – 21 wharves:

• RG Tanna Coal Terminal (RGTCT) – four wharves • Fisherman’s Landing – four wharves operated by Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) owned multiple companies and operated • South Trees – two wharves operated by • Barney Point Terminal – one wharf GPC owned Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) and operated • Boyne Wharf – one wharf operated by • Auckland Point – four wharves GPC owned and Boyne Smelters operated by others

Curtis Island LNG Precinct – three wharves, One wharf owned and operated by separately owned and operated by three Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Pty LNG proponents: Ltd (WICET):

• Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) • Wiggins Island Coal Terminal (WICT) • Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) • Gladstone LNG (GLNG)

Source: Gladstone Ports Corporation 2015-16 Annual Report

A program of priority port master planning

Master planning for the priority ports of marine areas needed for the efficient development and Gladstone, Abbot Point, Townsville and Hay Point/ operation of the priority ports while ensuring that the Mackay is advancing under the Ports Act and Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the GBRWHA is delivers state government port-related actions an intrinsic consideration in priority port development, and commitments of the Reef 2050 Long-Term management and governance. Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050). The objective of master Master planning will support the sustainable planning is to optimise the use of infrastructure and development of critical economic infrastructure, address operational, economic, environmental and the state’s priority ports, in a way that will balance community relationships, as well as supply chains and growth, job creation, environmental values and surrounding land uses. community interests. Through priority port master planning, the state government will effectively manage the land and

1 A long-term outlook

The Queensland Government has • includes an environmental Gladstone Regional Council, state prepared a draft master plan for the management framework agencies and other key stakeholders. priority Port of Gladstone and its (EMF) which identifies and The broader community has the surrounding land and marine areas. maps environmental values opportunity to comment on the draft and states the objectives and In accordance with Ports Act and with master plan through statutory public measures to manage impacts a long-term outlook to 2050, the draft consultation under the Ports Act. from port operations and master plan: development consistent with Have your say • outlines the strategic vision, the principles of ecologically View the draft master plan, supporting objectives and desired outcomes sustainable development. master planning documentation and for the port and the land and details of how to make a submission at The draft master plan has been marine areas vital for its future www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/ prepared with consideration to the development (the master sustainableports Guideline: Master planning for priority planned area) ports, Reef 2050 and the Reef 2050 Submissions close at 5.00 pm on • takes into consideration state policy guideline for decision makers. Monday 9 October 2017. interests associated with the The draft master plan has been port, including managing port- prepared in consultation with GPC, related development

Implementing the master plan

The master plan will be implemented over the master A draft port overlay will be prepared in consultation planned area through a port overlay, a regulatory with the port authority, the local government, state instrument required by the Ports Act which will operate agencies and other key stakeholders. in a coordinated way with the broader regulatory In accordance with the Ports Act, the draft port overlay framework for priority ports. will be released for public consultation providing the community an opportunity to have their say.

2 | Sustainable development of the priority Port of Gladstone Master planned area

The master plan will apply to a master planned area which encompasses areas beyond strategic port land, and includes both land and marine areas associated with the long-term sustainable development of the priority port.

A master planned area will include the The proposed priority Port of Historically, Queensland port’s strategic port land under the Gladstone master planned area ports have focussed on land Transport Infrastructure Act 1994 and encompasses a total area of about use planning within strategic may also include: 73 000 hectares. port land. • land within state development This includes marine areas within the areas (SDA) or priority port limits and approximately: Priority port master planning development areas (PDA) considers issues beyond • 4 400 hectares of land controlled • local government areas (LGAs) by the Gladstone Ports Corporation strategic port land including marine and land-based • marine areas (subject to the • 7 000 hectares of land within the impacts, port and supply chain constraints of the Ports Act). Gladstone Regional Council area capacities and connectivity, • 27 000 hectares of the and environmental and Gladstone SDA. community values.

3 Precincts

Precincts have been identified to indicate the long-term development potential of the master planned area.

The precincts of the proposed master The precincts of the proposed the Development Scheme for the planned area are: master planned area are presented Gladstone SDA and the GPC Land • Environmental management in Figure 1. Use Plan. • Infrastructure and supply The precinct approach has enabled the This may include further development chain corridors identification of those areas suitable on the mainland and on Curtis • Interface for long-term industrial development Island and/or Tide Island. Any and those where environmental values proposal for such industries will still • Marine infrastructure are the predominant consideration. require detailed assessment and be • Marine subject to relevant local, state and Key precincts provide for sustainable Commonwealth approvals. • Marine services and recreation development within the proposed • Port, industry and commerce. master planned area including industrial development. It is important to note that existing planning instruments applying to the The type of industrial development master planned area will continue to provided for corresponds with existing provide specific land use intent. planning instruments, including

4 | Sustainable development of the priority Port of Gladstone REFER INSET

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Figure 4 – Priority Port of Gladstone master planned area precincts (inset)

Figure 1: Proposed priority Port of GladstoneDraft master master plan planned for the priority area Port precincts of Gladstone 29 Figure 3 – Priority Port of Gladstone master planned area precincts

5 Draft master plan for the priority Port of Gladstone 28 Grow th of the priorit y Por t of Gladstone

The priority Port of Gladstone represents important economic infrastructure for the state and its sustainable growth will enable opportunities for regional employment, trade and investment into the future.

Master planning for the priority basins and create new marine-based priority Port of Gladstone. It does not Port of Gladstone has taken into infrastructure, with a focus on safe infer government approval and any consideration the priority port’s and efficient vessel movement though beneficial reuse of dredged material long-term growth outlook and Gladstone Harbour. within the master planned area will sustainable development and require full assessment and statutory The Queensland Government’s provides for a port throughput of up to approvals prior to proceeding, Maintenance Dredging Strategy for 294 million tonnes per annum by 2050. including considerations of alternative Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area dredged material beneficial The draft master plan: Ports, released in 2016 in response to reuse options. an action of Reef 2050, will guide the • identifies and protects the land priority Port of Gladstone in its future and marine areas, corridors and maintenance dredging. infrastructure critical to the port’s long-term future Under the Ports Act, capital dredging is prohibited for development of • examines the opportunities for new and expansion of existing port Managing optimising infrastructure and facilities in the GBRWHA outside the supply chains associated with environmental values priority ports. The Ports Act allows the port. capital dredging within the priority The draft master plan, through The draft master plan recognises the Port of Gladstone master planned area the EMF and the precinct importance of land-based and marine- however the material generated must approach, supports the based infrastructure at the port and not be deposited or disposed of in a sustainable development of the in the surrounding land and marine restricted area unless the material is port and its surrounding land areas. Land-based infrastructure beneficially reused. A restricted area and marine areas and will ensure includes pipelines, conveyors, roads is any area that is within the GBRWHA environmental values, including and rail lines and marine-based but outside the Commonwealth the OUV of the GBRWHA, infrastructure includes maritime marine park. are effectively managed into infrastructure such as jetties, Beneficial reuse of dredged material the future. wharves, berth pockets, swing basins may include land reclamation, beach and navigational channels critical for The EMF assesses the potential nourishment or forms of environmental vessel access throughout the port. impacts of port and port-related restoration. Master planning for the development on the identified The growth of the port and its port- priority Port of Gladstone has enabled environmental values within related industries relies on the the identification of areas which may and surrounding the master sustainable development of land have the potential for the beneficial planned area. It also outlines and marine-based infrastructure. reuse of dredged material, subject to the objectives and measures to In turn these infrastructure types, compliance with Commonwealth and manage these potential impacts. indirectly or directly, rely on ongoing state legislation. dredging activities at the priority Port The EMF takes into consideration Figure 2 is an indicative map of Gladstone. all potential development presenting potential material within each of the precincts and The draft master plan acknowledges placement areas at the priority considers the potential material maintenance and capital dredging as Port of Gladstone. It is included in placement areas within the an ongoing requirement for the port the draft master plan’s supporting master planned area (Figure 2). to maintain existing navigational documentation and informs the channels, berth pockets and swing master planning process for the

6 | Sustainable development of the priority Port of Gladstone INSET

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Figure 2: Potential material placement areas, Priority Port of Gladstone master planning preliminary draft port overlay

7 Environmental management framework

An EMF is an important element of the master plan for the priority Port of Gladstone.

In accordance with the Ports Act The draft port overlay will be prepared the EMF: following the finalisation of the master Outstanding Universal plan and will be subject to public • identifies and maps the Value comment prior to its finalisation. environmental values within and surrounding the master planned The EMF has been developed through The OUV of the GBRWHA has area including the local expression a robust analysis of environmental been an intrinsic consideration of the OUV of the GBRWHA values within and surrounding in master planning. the master planned area and the • assesses the potential impacts of The EMF within the draft potential impacts of development port and port-related development master plan identifies the on these values with a focus on the on these values local expression of OUV of principles of ecologically sustainable the GBRWHA at the priority • outlines the objectives and development. Figure 3 outlines the Port of Gladstone and its measures to manage these EMF development approach. surrounding marine and potential impacts. The EMF adopts The EMF has been developed land areas. This approach is a precinct approach and includes in consultation with GPC, the consistent with Reef 2050 and objectives and measures for Gladstone Regional Council and other the recommendations of the managing potential impacts on the key stakeholders. Independent Review of the Port identified environmental values of Gladstone (2013). The EMF within each precinct. An independent advisors panel, requires the preparation of an representing environmental The objectives and measures will be environmental assessment specialists, has also reviewed the implemented through the port overlay, guideline for the priority EMF in the context of the draft master including during planning processes Port of Gladstone which will plan and has advised the state such as development assessment ensure OUV is consistently government that the EMF adequately and plan-making. considered during environmental considers the principles of ecologically approval processes. sustainable development.

8 | Sustainable development of the priority Port of Gladstone Priority port master planning – Environmental management framework Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015

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Identification Risk assessment Management Review & improve Identify and map Analyse potential measures and Review effectiveness environmental values impacts on implementation of priority management in and surrounding the environmental values measures. Incorporate Develop priority master planned area as a result of growth findings of the review management measures including: scenarios. into updates of the and objectives for master plan and managing potential • natural/physical Consider how to port overlay. manage potential impacts. • social impacts if they are not • cultural already addressed by existing management mechanisms.

Intrinsic consideration of the Outstanding Universal Value of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area

Risk assessment of Environmental values Continued commitment environmental values Local expression of contributing to the local to managing impacts on contributing to the local OUV of the GBRWHA expression of OUV of the environmental values expression of the OUV is managed through Great Barrier Reef World that contribute to local of GBRWHA – including relevant port overlay Heritage Area (GBRWHA) expression of OUV of the presence, contribution content. are identified. GBRWHA. and integrity of values.

Figure 3: Priority port master planning EMF development approach More information Visit www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/sustainableports Email [email protected] Phone +61 7 3452 7050 @QldEconDev