Container trade to be unlocked for Central Queensland

• Critical infrastructure project to unlock global container trade for Central Queensland.
• Construction of the Container Depot at the Port of Mackay will strengthen regional supply chain resilience, improve turnaround times and lower logistics costs for regional exporters and importers.
• Boosting regional containerisation capability in Central Queensland enables more efficient trade flows, reducing inland transport emissions.

NORTH Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) is paving the way for expanded and more efficient local trade with the construction of a multi-million-dollar container depot at the Port of Mackay.

The 1.3-hectare facility will be the first of its kind in the region, supporting existing trades and, for the first time, enabling regular containerised imports and exports directly through Mackay.

NQBP CEO Brendan Webb said this means local businesses and producers will have the opportunity to send and receive goods directly, without the need to route freight through more distant ports such as Brisbane, saving time, reducing costs, and boosting local jobs.

“Mackay’s strategic location—close to major mining and agricultural hubs—means industries can rely on a more robust and flexible logistics network with a dedicated container facility at the port,” Mr Webb said.

“The new Container Depot will allow regional exporters and importers to move goods directly through Mackay, eliminating the need for long-haul transport to other ports

“This unlocks significant savings in freight costs and time, while also reducing heavy vehicle traffic on the Bruce Highway.

“As well as safer roads and more efficient trade, having a local container facility also strengthens the region’s supply chain against weather disruptions and reduces transport emissions.”

Mr Webb said the container depot was being built to handle current demand and future expansion, including reefer (refrigerated container) capability.

“NQBP market studies show a strong demand in the region for the depot, with a steady build-up of trade in the coming years to around 7,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU) a year through Mackay,” Mr Webb said.

“Built for heavy-duty performance, it will be reach-stacker ready, have reefer capacity, efficient empty container management and set up to handle growth from day one.”

NQBP invites exporters, and importers to engage with this transformative project.

“If your organisation has a container trade opportunity, we’re open for business — get in touch with our Commercial team as we build Mackay’s container capability.”

NQBP awarded the construction contract to Ward Civil & Environmental Engineering in December 2025, with completion planned for mid to late 2026.

NQBP Background

NQBP manages the ports of Hay Point, Mackay, Abbot Point and Weipa, which together facilitate more than 150 million tonnes of trade annually, contributing $35 billion to the Queensland economy and supporting 47,000 jobs.

Collectively, NQBP ports move more than half (54%) of Queensland’s trade by volume, including 68 per cent of Queensland’s coal exports.

See NQBP’s vision for the future of the Port of Mackay.

Images

Image 1 Groundbreaking on Port of Mackay Container Depot project: North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) General Manager Commercial & Maritime Services Darren Brownsey, Principal Advisor Strategy & Commercial Liam Cullin (NQBP), Shipping & Logistics Specialist Darren Fursman (NQBP), Senior Manager Engineering & Planning Hossein Saadai, and General Manager Infrastructure & Operations Tim Lewis (NQBP).

Image 2 Construction is under way on the 1.3-hectare Container Depot at the Port of Mackay.

Image 3 Port of Mackay Container Depot future state.

ENDS

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation contact:

Amanda Blines | Senior Advisor Brand and Communications

0439 703 330 | ablines@nqbp.com.au