Channel Duplication Project

To facilitate the future increase in the Port of Gladstone’s throughput and a safe two-way passage for ships, the existing Gatcombe and Golding Cutting channels in the ports outer harbour region, will require duplication.

While we expect modest growth, scale and volume of Queensland’s trade in the short-term; medium- and longer-term growth requires extensive planning to ready Queensland for the future.

Due to the extensive lead time for these types of large, marine infrastructure programs, it is imperative to undertake early environmental baseline data collection, impacts assessment, approval processes, project design and procurement.

For these reasons, GPC must complete the Channel Duplication Project Environment Impact Statement (EIS) approval process, and give the appropriate time and consideration to the content and potential addressable impacts.

Key Features 

The project will include:

  • establishing locations for long-term placement of displaced material including capital and maintenance activities in accordance with relevant legislation
  • duplicating the existing Gatcombe and Golding Cutting channels in the outer harbour of the Gladstone Port
  • relocating existing, and placement of new, navigational aids for the channel duplication.

Environmental Impact Statement

In 2012, the Coordinator-General declared the project to be a significant project for which an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required. The final Terms of Reference (TOR) received in December 2012 set out the matters to be addressed in the EIS associated with the State approval and the final EIS Guidelines were released for public comment by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) in March 2013. 

The EIS process allowed the project’s potential environmental, social and economic impacts, both direct and indirect, to be examined and addressed.

The Port of Gladstone Gatcombe and Golding Cutting Channel Duplication Project draft EIS documents were made available for public review and comment from Monday 8 April to Thursday 23 May 2019.

The project EIS has been finalised taking account of any comments received during the period for comment. The final EIS consists of the draft EIS (public display version) and Additional Information to the EIS (AEIS). The final EIS has been lodged with the Office of the Coordinator-General in accordance with the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 and the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Viewing the documents

An electronic version of the draft EIS and AEIS documentation for the project can be viewed and downloaded from the links below.

Gatcombe and Golding Cutting Channel Duplication Project – Draft EIS Documents

More information

For enquiries or more information about the Gatcombe and Golding Cutting Channel Duplication please email or phone our Corporate and Community Relations Team on 1800 243 GPC.