Bowen State Boat Harbour master plan

Bowen State Boat Harbour is 1 of 8 state-owned and managed boat harbours on the Queensland coast that form a network of important strategic maritime public assets which:

• provide safe and efficient all-tide deep water sheltered access for recreational and commercial vessels
• support sustainable recreational and commercial boating activities and the broader maritime and tourism sectors
• support maritime-related community functions, government services and public recreation.

The department has started development of a master plan to help guide future activities at the harbour.

The master plan will be informed by:

• technical information and analysis
  • marine infrastructure and operations
  • economics, supply chain and tourism
  • land and marine environmental values
  • property and leasing
  • planning and urban design
• stakeholder and community engagement.

The master plan will provide a long-term vision and strategic framework, and guide development and decision-making over time, ensuring the harbour can continue to develop and renew.

It will be developed through an evidence-based and collaborative planning process, involving supporting technical assessments and significant stakeholder and community engagement.

Important considerations for the project will include Whitsunday Regional Council’s planning for the Bowen Foreshore and opportunities presented by North Queensland Bulk Ports Bowen Jetty redevelopment adjacent to the Bowen State Boat Harbour.

The master plan will create a shared vision for the future of the harbour, identify potential land and water uses, include a structure plan and design concepts, detail strategies to achieve the long-term vision and an implementation plan.