7. Existing protection and management

The ports management topic encompasses all aspects of the development, operation and maintenance of ports, with the exception of shipping and ship movements. There are 12 ports within or adjacent to the Reef that affect the Region’s ecosystem and heritage values (Section 5.7). 

Management of ports is primarily led by individual port authorities that are Queensland Government-owned corporations, with oversight by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. The management and planning arrangements for ports cross a range of key management issues, consisting of: master plans (for priority ports) and land use plans; long-term maintenance dredging management plans and associated frameworks; Queensland Coastal Contingency Action Plan;¹⁹⁷⁷ port procedures; marine biosecurity arrangements (including ballast water exchange requirements); and permit requirements associated with specific activities.

Within individual port areas, port authorities are responsible for the management of vessel loading/unloading and movements and the development and maintenance of port infrastructure, including dredging and placement of dredged material. These activities carry with them a range of environmental risks associated with threats such as marine pollution and debris, light pollution, underwater noise and vibration, habitat loss, water quality changes. General biosecurity obligations, including the risk management of marine pest introduction to coastal waters, is carried out by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Port authorities are typically well resourced and provide a high degree of environmental management and monitoring effort within their areas. There is also a good working relationship between port authorities and key regulators. These include the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, which has a leading role in benchmarking port planning and dredging management, and the Reef Authority, which has an interest in dredging and placement activities that occur in the Marine Park. While the Reef Authority often does not have direct jurisdiction within most port areas, as most are excluded from the Marine Park, ongoing engagement has been formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Queensland Ports Association and the membership of the Reef Authority on various port technical advisory and consultative committees.

Port authorities and agencies continue to implement the significant reforms that occurred from 2014 under the Maintenance Dredging Strategy for Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area Ports,¹⁴⁰⁸ Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015 (Qld) and Dredging and Dredge Spoil Material Disposal Policy.¹⁴¹³ These reforms are embedded into the planning process for ports and have led to improvements in management inputs and outputs. Since 2019, management and planning frameworks for dredging, at sea placement and port development are mostly implemented as standard practice and align with international best practice.

The control of marine pests being introduced to Australia is managed primarily through the use of ballast water controls and vessel inspections and is well developed. However, since 2019, there is enhanced recognition of risks associated with marine biosecurity within ports, such as marine pests already established in coastal waters, as well as underwater noise. This has prompted policy development in these areas, but this is ongoing. Formal engagement and support to local waterway partnerships to improve the holistic management of catchment-related issues, including sediment contribution into port areas, has also commenced.

Challenges for ports over the coming years include addressing concerns for marine pests and underwater noise, implementing management actions in relation to vessel strikes, together with managing potential jurisdictional conflicts associated with multiple levels of permitting for maritime developments.