Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015

The Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015 (Ports Act) provides a legislative framework to balance the protection of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area with the development of the state's priority ports. The Ports Act designates the ports of Gladstone, Townsville, Hay Point/Mackay and Abbot Point as priority ports.

The Ports Act responds to the United National Educational, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee recommendations on the reef, and the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan. The Ports Act ensures the Outstanding Universal Value of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area is an intrinsic consideration in future port development. 

Managing port-related development

The Ports Act:

• restricts new port development in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area to within current port limits and outside the Commonwealth Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the Queensland Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park
• prohibits capital dredging for the development of new or expansion of existing port facilities in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area outside the priority ports of Gladstone, Townsville, Hay Point/Mackay and Abbot Point (and the Port of Cairns in some limited circumstances)
• prohibits material generated from capital dredging from being deposited in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
• mandates master planning for priority ports.

The Ports Act does not regulate maintenance dredging (dredging carried out to ensure the safe and effective ongoing operation of existing port facilities).

Read more about dredging and how it is regulated.

Priority ports

The Ports Act declares the ports of Gladstone, Townsville, Hay Point/Mackay and Abbot Point as priority ports.

These ports are the major regional bulk commodity ports operating in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Combined, priority ports move millions of tonnes of trade representing billions of dollars in export value for Queensland.

The Ports Act mandates master plans and port overlays for priority ports, seeking to optimise the use of infrastructure and address operational, economic, environmental and community considerations, as well as supply chains and surrounding land uses.

Port of Cairns

The Ports Act includes specific provisions that allow limited capital dredging for a port facility within the inner harbour for the Port of Cairns. A review of these provisions was undertaken in accordance with the Ports Act.

Get more information about the review

Further information

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