Port of Townsville expansion moves forward

The $1.64 billion expansion of Townsville’s port takes a step forward this week with more opportunity for comment on its environmental impact statement.

The independent Coordinator-General will tomorrow (EDS: Saturday) release additional information to the project’s environmental impact statement, which will remain open for comment for a month.

State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said while the expansion was vital, it needed to proceed at no cost to the Great Barrier Reef.

“This $1.64 billion proposal includes deepening and widening the existing shipping lanes, construction of an outer northern harbour of the existing port, six new ship berths and a new western breakwater,” he said.

“It also includes the capital dredging of 11.4 million cubic metres of sediment to be re-used to create 152 hectares of reclaimed land for the port.

“None of the capital dredging material is to be dumped at sea.           

“This project could create 174 direct jobs at the peak of construction plus 180 operational jobs, with port annual throughput set to climb from its current 9.8 million tonnes to 48 million tonnes by 2040.

“This Government strongly supports the sustainable growth of Queensland’s declared priority ports as long as the growth is environmentally responsible.”

Ports Minister Mark Bailey said the Port of Townsville was a state priority port and that the project now incorporated on-land beneficial re-use of all capital dredge material.

“Consistent with our Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan commitments and provisions of our legislation, no capital dredge material will be permitted to be placed at sea,” Mr Bailey said.

 “Townsville is the trade and logistics hub for Northern Australia.  Demand forecasts show the region will grow strongly over the next 30 years,” he said.

“This project is about making that possible: there cannot be growth without a port capable of moving the goods and freight. 

“We are committed to protecting the environment while building a strong diverse economy to create more jobs for Queenslanders and this project seeks to deliver on both those objectives.” Dr Lynham said the AEIS would be open for comment from Saturday until 7 November, 2016.

He said key issues for the Coordinator-General’s assessment include:

• marine water quality impacts arising from dredging activities
• Management of construction activities, especially potential impacts on marine mammals, turtles and fish
• road impacts during each phase of construction

For more information visit  www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/TPE

[ENDS]                      08 October 2016

Media Contact:           Jan Martin 0439 341 314

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