Planning

Planning includes both Land Use Plans, which are prepared by North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP), and priority port master plans, which are prepared by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) with NQBP's consultation.

Land Use Plans

A Land Use Plan is a statutory instrument that identifies NQBP’s Strategic Port Land and outlines its future preferred use in the medium term. This includes areas for industry and commercial operations, and environment and buffer purposes.

Development on Strategic Port Land is not subject to assessment by local government authorities and therefore the Land Use Plan becomes the principal tool for the assessment of Material Change of Use applications under the Planning Act 2016. NQBP’s Land Use Plans are developed in accordance with the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994. All new development on Strategic Port Land must comply with the requirements of the Land Use Plan.

NQBP is currently drafting new Land Use Plans for the Ports of Abbot Point, Hay Point and Mackay following the endorsement of TMR’s priority port master plans. It is anticipated opportunities for community input will occur in late 2024 as part of the drafting process.

View land use plans for our ports:

• Land use plan for Port of Mackay (under review)
• Land use plan for Port of Weipa
• Land use plan for Port of Abbot Point (under review)
• Land use plan for Port of Hay Point (under review)

Port master planning

Under the Sustainable Port Development Act 2015, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is responsible for port master planning for the four designated priority ports in Queensland: Gladstone, Townsville, Abbot Point and Hay Point/Mackay.

NQBP provides assistance and technical advice to TMR in the preparation of these plans. For further information on the state government’s port master planning program, please visit the TMR website.

For further information on NQBP’s land use planning activities, please email our planning team.