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Report on consultation Proposed boundary for the Gladstone port master planned area
Draft guideline for determining a port master planned area boundary
September 2015
1 Report on consultation | Proposed boundary for the Gladstone port master planned area and draft guideline for determining a port master planned area boundary
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1 Report on consultation | Proposed boundary for the Gladstone port master planned area and draft guideline for determining a port master planned area boundary
Purpose of the report The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of key issues raised
during public consultation on the proposed Boundary for the Gladstone port
master planned area and associated draft guideline for determining a master
planned area boundary, conducted from 6 June 2015 to 20 July 2015.
The opinions expressed in this report reflect those provided in the
submissions.
Background The Queensland Government is leading master planning for the Port of
Gladstone, working with the Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) and other
key stakeholders.
Port master planning for the priority ports of Gladstone, Abbot Point, Hay
Point/Mackay and Townsville is a port-related action of the Reef 2050 Long-
Term Sustainability Plan and will be mandated under the Sustainable Ports
Development Bill 2015, if passed.
The Queensland Government sought public comment on the proposed
boundary for the Gladstone port master planned area as an early step in the
master planning process for Gladstone.
The Department of State Development (DSD) prepared a draft guideline for
determining a master planned area to assist in identifying the proposed
area. The guideline was also notified and any feedback will inform the
preparation of a master planning guideline for priority ports which is
proposed to become a non-statutory tool to assist master planning
processes and preparation of associated documentation.
Objective The consultation process for the proposed boundary will inform decision
making on the area to be the subject of port master planning processes for
Gladstone.
Communication and engagement During the consultation period, the Queensland Government conducted
communication and engagement activities to raise awareness of the
proposed Boundary for the Gladstone port master planned area and
associated draft guideline for determining a master planned area boundary,
and provide an opportunity for public comment.
The communications and engagement actions included:
Consultation web page:
www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/sustainableports and link to
consultation web page through Gladstone Ports Corporation web
site
Fact sheets (electronic and hard copy)
Public notices indicating how to make a submission and advising of
public information session
Display points at the DSD Gladstone regional office and Gladstone
Regional Council library.
2 Report on consultation | Proposed boundary for the Gladstone port master planned area and draft guideline for determining a port master planned area boundary
Public information session A public information session was held at the Gladstone Regional Council
Library between 6:00pm and 7:30pm on Tuesday 14 July 2015. The
following people attended the session:
two individuals
a representative from Agriforce
a representative from Queensland Alumina Limited
Key stakeholder meetings GPC attended a number of briefings and meetings alongside DSD with key
agencies involved in the master planning process.
Submissions A total of 23 submissions were received from the following:
Aurizon
Department of Agriculture and Forestry (DAF)
Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG)
Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM)
Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR)
Environmental Defenders Office Qld (EDO Qld)
Euroa Steel Plant Project (ESPP)
Gladstone Regional Council (GRC)
North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP)
Public Safety Business Agency (PSBA)
Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL)
Queensland Energy Resources Limited (QERL)
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS)
Queensland Ports Association (QPA)
Queensland Resource Council (QRC)
Rio Tinto Alcan (RTA)
Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET)
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
five individual submissions
2 Report on consultation | Proposed boundary for the Gladstone port master planned area and draft guideline for determining a port master planned area boundary
Key themes of consultation
Sustainable Ports Development Bill 2015
Issue Response
QRC, NQBP and QPA submissions raised Bill specific issues. No response necessary. There is a separate review process being undertaken
for the Bill. Submissions are being considered in this context.
Desire to be involved early
Issue Response
GRC, Aurizon, RTA and a number of State agencies expressed a desire to be
involved early in the port master planning process.
All relevant stakeholders including government and private sector
representatives will have an opportunity to be involved during the preparation
of documentation required in master planning processes. DSD is currently
preparing an evidence base and draft master planning guideline that will
undergo further consultation. DSD has held initial discussions with a number of
State agencies and key stakeholders.
Guideline
Issue Response
One individual submitter expressed concerned that the guideline may be
amended at any time without any community input.
In accordance with the Bill, any guideline is proposed to be a non-statutory
document and therefore will not be subject to mandatory consultation
requirements. It is intended any guideline will be made available to the public.
3 Report on consultation | Proposed boundary for the Gladstone port master planned area and draft guideline for determining a port master planned area boundary
The submitter also questioned how much consultation will be undertaken on the
master plan.
If the Minister proposes to make or amend a master plan for a priority port, the
Minister must give notice to the relevant port authority and each relevant local
government and provide those entities within a stated period of at least 20
business days in which to make a submission. Once a draft master plan has
been prepared the Minister must publish a public notice and allow submissions
to be made within a stated period of at least 30 business days. Once a draft
master plan amendment has been prepared the Minister must publish a public
notice and allow submissions to be made within a stated period of at least 20
business days.
NQBP recommended some specific amendments to the guideline in relation to
recognition of existing studies and relevant legislation.
DSD will consider the comments in preparing the final guideline.
Finalisation of proposed boundary
Issue Response
WWF and RTA indicated support for identifying a port master planned area but
are concerned that further input and review is required before any proposed
boundary is finalised.
DSD is preparing a guideline for master planning for priority ports that will be
made available to the public. The guideline will outline the components of
master planning and associated documentation preparation processes.
DSD is currently finalising an evidence base that will inform decision on the
proposed master planned area boundary. The evidence base will include
identification of OUV relevant to the area.
DSD will continue to liaise with relevant stakeholders to determine if any
changes to the proposed boundary are required.
The boundary cannot be formalised until the Sustainable Ports Development
Bill is enacted.
4 Report on consultation | Proposed boundary for the Gladstone port master planned area and draft guideline for determining a port master planned area boundary
Environmental values
Issue Response
GRC, EDO Qld, WWF and individual submitters expressed concern about the
ongoing protection of the area of Curtis Island that is currently included in the
Curtis Island Environmental Management Precinct (CIEMP) within the
Development Scheme for the Gladstone State Development Area (GSDA).
The proposed boundary of the Gladstone port master planned area on Curtis
Island is intended to be consistent with the boundary of the GSDA. Areas of
the CIEMP within the proposed master planned area, and contained within the
GSDA, will continue to be retained for environmental purposes.
Submitters have been advised of the tenure status of the CIEMP, including
areas to be protected from development, and management responsibilities of
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. An area on the southern end of Curtis
Island adjacent to the proposed master planned area is to be protected partly
through designation as national park and partly through designation as
conservation park.
EDO Qld and WWF expressed concern about the identification and protection of
areas of environmental value. EDO Qld does not support the inclusion of
Facing Island within the proposed boundary as it provides turtle nesting sites
and significant coastal wetlands and vegetation species. EDO Qld considers
Facing Island to be a fragile island ecosystem within the GBRWHA and adjacent
to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Facing Island has been included as it is mostly strategic port land and included
within the GPC Land Use Plan (LUP). Facing Island is designated
‘Environment Precinct’ in the LUP. The intent for the locality of Facing Island
within the LUP recognises the ecological value of the area. Inclusion of Facing
Island and adjoining wetlands within the master planned area will ensure its
ongoing protection over the long term.
The master plan will enable environmental areas to be identified and protected
from development. Inclusion of these areas will allow specific consideration of
potential impacts from proposed development within the master planned area.
DAF recommend amendment to the proposed boundary to exclude a large
mangrove delta north east of Compigne Island, south of Curtis Island and
wetlands at South Trees Island and Facing Island.
The wetlands north east of Compigne Island and south of Curtis Island are
located adjacent to proposed national park and conservation park and should
be included in the master planned area to ensure ongoing protection.
Inclusion of Facing Island and adjoining wetlands and areas of wetlands
between South Trees and Boyne Island will allow specific consideration of
potential impacts from proposed development within the master planned area
and ensure their protection over the long term.
5 Report on consultation | Proposed boundary for the Gladstone port master planned area and draft guideline for determining a port master planned area boundary
WWF suggested a constraints analysis is required for the entire area within the
proposed boundary. A range of recent planning studies have been undertaken
to inform review and update of existing planning instruments within the
proposed master planned area. These planning instruments (the GRC Planning
Scheme, the Development Scheme for the GSDA and the GPC Land Use Plan)
apply to a large part of the proposed port master planned area, however there is
a large extent of marine area that is not currently regulated by a planning
instrument.
DSD is preparing an evidence base to inform master planning processes
which will identify environmental values, including OUV, within the entire
proposed master planned area. The evidence base will identify any
information gaps (for example marine areas) to be addressed and inform
future master planning processes including identification of areas that require
protection from development.
In accordance with the Bill, the Minister must be satisfied that the master plan
adequately considers the principles of ecologically sustainable development.
Hazards
Issue Response
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has identified bushfire prone areas
within the proposed master planned area and suggested that master planning
processes should address the State Planning Policy as it relates to bushfire
hazard.
Natural hazards, including bushfire, will be a consideration of future master
planning processes.
The Hazardous Industries and Chemicals Branch within DJAG had no specific
requirements relating to the proposed boundary or associated draft guideline but
did indicate there are existing and potential major hazard facilities within the
proposed boundary. DJAG advised DSD to ensure only compatible uses are
allowed within the potential off-site impact areas around these facilities.
Major hazard facilities will be a consideration of future master planning
processes.
Specific landholder interests
Issue Response
Discussions with QAL indicate it will request amendment of the proposed
boundary to include the full extent of its land interests.
DSD has amended the proposed Gladstone port master planned area
boundary to include the full extent of QAL’s land interests.
6 Report on consultation | Proposed boundary for the Gladstone port master planned area and draft guideline for determining a port master planned area boundary
Aurizon indicated its support for port master planning but expressed its desire to
continue to be involved in master planning processes and its disappointment in
not being involved in determination of the proposed boundary.
Aurizon met with DSD on 23 July 2015 to discuss issues raised in its
submission.
DSD will continue to liaise with Aurizon to determine if any changes to the
proposed boundary are required.
WICET has requested amendment of the proposed boundary to include the full
extent of the future development of the rail receival infrastructure associated
with the terminal.
DSD has amended the proposed Gladstone port master planned area
boundary to include the full extent of land required for future WICET
development.
ESSP provided an overview of its proposed project but did not raise any
concerns or issues regarding master planning.
No response necessary.
Regulated vegetation management
Issue Response
DNRM did not raise any concerns with the proposed boundary, however it did
identify requirements relating to regulated vegetation management within the
area. Such requirements will be considered during future master planning
processes.
Vegetation management requirements will be considered during future master
planning processes.
Changes to the proposed master planned area boundary As a result of public consultation, DSD has made minor amendments to the proposed Gladstone port master planned area boundary. Figure 1 illustrates the
proposed boundary of the master planned area that was released for public consultation. Figure 2 illustrates the new proposed boundary, and highlights the
minor amendments that were made.
The master planned area boundary may continue to be refined throughout the master planning process, and can only be finalised if the Sustainable Ports
Development Bill 2015 is enacted, the master plan for the area is developed and made, and the area is set by regulation.
Figure 2 Proposed Gladstone port master planned area boundary as revised following public consultation
Minor amendments
Department of State Development PO Box 15009, City East, Queensland, 4002 tel 13 QGOV (13 74 68) [email protected] www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au