Environmental management
Core to how we do business is getting the balance right; demonstrating that we take our environmental and social responsibilities as seriously as our commercial acumen.
North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) seeks to, where possible, prevent, and always to reduce and manage its impact on the environment.
Like everyone, we care deeply about the condition and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef. As the only port authority in the world to manage three Priority Ports located next to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, we’re proud to contribute to environmental health.
We do this by taking a long-term strategic approach to environmental monitoring and research, and partnering with leading science institutions and experts. We pride ourselves on operating to the highest international standards through our Environmental Management Systems (EMS), which are certified under AS/ISO14001:2015.
Port activities
The main activities we, as the port authority, carry out are dredging to maintain navigable depths for ships and construction of port facilities. Appropriate environmental management plans, extensive monitoring and close consultation with stakeholders guide these activities.
NQBP leases land or infrastructure to other organisations to carry out port-related activities and has a planning, coordinating, facilitation and development function in the port. As a rule, NQBP only operates port facilities in the Port of Mackay. The individual operators of facilities in each port generally have control over potential impacts of their business activities, and any environmentally relevant activities they undertake are licensed by either the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection or the local council.
There’s been considerable private and public sector investment in port infrastructure to support Queensland’s importing and exporting needs. Development is integral to the success of our ports and to our region’s economic future. All new projects on port land are assessed for potential environmental impacts as part of an approval process.
Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
Strong relationships with the local community, business and government assist us to deliver sustainable outcomes. The Australian and Queensland governments’ Reef 2050 Plan, released in 2015, provides an overarching framework for protecting and managing the reef until 2050.
Read more about our work in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
Environmental policy
We are closely involved in the development and ongoing implementation of environmental policy that has the potential to interact with our business interests. As an organisation with strong environmental and sustainability credentials, we support planning and policy decisions that ensure avoidance and minimisation of environmental impacts are a priority.
We advocate that strong policy is:
- Informed by rigorous and recognised science
- Balances science with environmental, community and economic needs
- Recognises maintenance and creation of ports and waterways are essential.
Read our Environment Policy Statement.
A member of our Sustainability and External Relations team serves as the Environment and Planning Chair for both Queensland Ports Association and Ports Australia, allowing NQBP to play a vital role in driving industry involvement and input into marine science, port policy and dredging assessment and governance.
Our expertise is also called upon by ports and industry associations throughout Queensland and Australia.
Environmental monitoring
We have a comprehensive program of environmental monitoring that is reviewed annually. It’s developed on a port-by-port basis to ensure environmental issues in each port are adequately monitored. Each port monitoring program is nested within broader regional and reef-wide programs to ensure a holistic approach to environmental management.
See our latest monitoring reports.
Our annual action plan
We have an annual EcoPorts Program which is a practical action plan to achieve long-term environmental and sustainability goals and commitments. It encompasses port environmental monitoring programs, training, auditing and tasks around community and stakeholder engagement on environmental matters. The program is fundamental in working towards a sustainable future for our ports, through identifying and scheduling our obligations and voluntary commitments to demonstrate a high level of environmental stewardship.
Sustainable sediment management project
Our ports have developed a long-term sediment management framework in consultation with Reef 2050 stakeholders, government and research agencies. This is called the Sustainable Sediment Management (SSM) project.
Environmental management key activities at each port
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Coral monitoring | This program investigates local fringing coral health, abundance and distribution and includes annual before and after wet season monitoring along the coastline of the Port of Mackay and the Port of Hay Point. |
| Marine water quality | Large scale ambient marine water quality monitoring along the coastline of Port of Mackay. |
| Seagrass monitoring and research program | Undertaken by JCU scientists, this program aligns with broader Great Barrier Reef seagrass monitoring and provides linkages to the Queenslandwide network of habitat assessment and management. It covers the coastline of the Port of Mackay and the Port of Hay Point. |
| Event-based stormwater monitoring program | An annual event-based stormwater monitoring program undertaken throughout the industrial area at the Port of Mackay. |
| Air quality monitoring | Monitoring air quality from port-related operations at the Port of Mackay. |
| Tramp ant surveillance | Quarterly exotic ant surveillance undertaken at the Port of Mackay in collaboration with Biosecurity Queensland. |
| Pest bee surveillance | Six weekly pest bee surveillance at the eight bee hives situated just outside the Port of Mackay. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Maintenance dredging | Safe, sustainable and competitive seaport services for customers require a well-planned maintenance dredging program to ensure declared depths are preserved. NQBP holds a 10-year long-term Commonwealth Permit and ongoing State permits for routine maintenance dredging at the Port of Weipa. |
| Strategic, long-term seagrass monitoring program | One of the largest running seagrass monitoring programs in the world. JCU scientists undertake monitoring and reporting, including the assessment of seagrass community health indicators. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Environmental approvals for capital dredging | Abbot Point is a designated Priority Port in Queensland. Capital dredging will be required to allow for future growth of coal export capacity from 50 to 120 mtpa. |
| Seagrass monitoring and research program | In place since 2008, the program assesses the long-term condition and trend for this valuable fisheries habitat. |
| Marine water quality | A new ambient marine water quality monitoring program has been implemented at the Port of Abbot Point. |
| Coral monitoring | An ambient coral monitoring program has been implemented at the Port of Abbot Point with surveys scheduled before and after wet season each year. |
| Turtle monitoring | Monitoring and tagging adult turtles as well as monitoring of turtle eggs and nests. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Air quality monitoring | In place for nearly 20 years, along with terminal operators, this program is designed to improve dust management practices at the port. |
| Marine water quality | Large scale ambient marine water quality monitoring along the coastline of the Port of Hay Point. |
| Coral monitoring | This program investigates local fringing coral health, abundance and distribution and includes annual before and after wet season monitoring along the coastline of the Port of Mackay and the Port of Hay Point. |
| Seagrass monitoring and research program | Undertaken by JCU scientists, this program aligns with broader Great Barrier Reef seagrass monitoring and provides linkages to the Queenslandwide network of habitat assessment and management. It covers the coastline of the Port of Mackay and the Port of Hay Point. |