Ports North’s Port Master Planning Project Moves Forward

Ports North’s Port Master Planning Project has taken an important step forward with the appointment of GHD Advisory to undertake a detailed technical plan that will map out options for developing the Ports of Cairns and the Port of Mourilyan over a 30-year timeframe.

Image source: Ports North

Commenting the latest news, Transport and Main Roads Minister, Mark Bailey, said that the master planning process was fundamental to ensuring Queensland’s ports had a long-term vision for growth and expansion while protecting the environment.

“This process will present a pathway for the ports to grow in a way that respects their place alongside the reef and the environmental values shared by the communities in which they are located,” Mr Bailey said.

“Queensland’s publicly-owned ports are a critical part of the state’s supply chain and must be supported with a plan that will allow them to grow and increase trade capacity in step with our growing economy.”

Development of the plans will be tailored to each port but will include a range of considerations such as:

  • trade demand, forecasting and feasibility analysis – including reef fleet, marinas, cruise, project cargo, bulk cargo, bulk storage, marine maintenance, navy, fishing, break bulk, containers;
  • cargo diversity and emerging opportunities;
  • infrastructure condition, capacity and utilization;
  • maintenance and capital dredging requirements;
  • future land utilization and allocations.

Drafts of the master plans for Cairns and Mourilyan are expected in 2020.