Problem

The 2015 Australian Infrastructure Audit found that growth in national mineral and gas exports will lead to significant growth in demand for regional highway, rail and port infrastructure. Improving connections to ports will be essential to supporting these industries.

In 2019–20, the Port of Gladstone had 1,868 ships call to transport 34 major cargoes, totalling over 122.5 million tonnes. The port’s most recent 50-year plan (2012) envisages the port’s capacity will ultimately grow to 250–300 million tonnes per year. The Audit noted that the Port of Gladstone handled around 7.5% of Australia’s total bulk imports and exports (measured in gross mass tonnes) in 2012–13.

Gladstone Ports Corporation has identified a number of opportunities to invest in infrastructure to underpin growth in Central Queensland’s mining, export and agricultural sector. These opportunities relate to land and sea access infrastructure designed to support productive supply chains to the Port of Gladstone.

The Queensland Government has recognised Gladstone as a priority port that will utilise the adjacent State Development area and key supply-chain infrastructure to support economic growth in Queensland.

Proposal

The proposal covers a range of potential projects including:

• channel development to increase export capacity through the port
• upgrades to the heavy-vehicle corridors that link the port to the freight task
• development of new wharf facilities for emerging markets, including infrastructure for containerised freight and renewables
• new rail infrastructure to provide direct connections from Inland Rail and the Surat Basin to the port.

Next steps

Proponent to develop potential investment options (Stage 2 of Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework).