Land use planning
June 29, 2022
Port Land Use Plans
GPC has two Land Use Plans (LUPs) for all strategic and operational port lands under our management in the Port of Gladstone, Port of Rockhampton (Port Alma Shipping Terminal) and Port of Bundaberg.
The LUPs are developed in accordance with the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, which includes approval by the Minister of Transport. The LUPs list our strategic port land, any land proposed to become strategic port land and the current and proposed uses and intent for the land.
All new development on strategic port land must comply with the requirements of the LUP and associated development codes for code assessable development. GPC is the regulator of this development assessment under the provisions of the Planning Act 2016.
- GPC Development Code 2012
- GPC Land Use Plan 2012 v2 – Port of Gladstone and Rockhampton
- Port of Bundaberg Land Use Plan 2020
Priority port master plan
Master planning for the Port of Gladstone is part of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050 Plan) and mandated under the Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015 (Ports Act).
Port master planning facilitates sustainable development of priority ports such as the Port of Gladstone in balancing long-term economic growth, job creation, environmental values and community interests, while providing protection for the Great Barrier Reef.
The Port overlay is the regulatory instrument that implements the Master Plan under the Ports Act.
Some development within the Priority Port of Gladstone is regulated by the Port overlay for the Priority Port of Gladstone in addition to GPC’s Land use plans (as shown in section 6 of the Port overlay). GPC is the regulator of this development assessment under the provisions of the Planning Act 2016.
Port of Gladstone Land Use Plan 2022
GPC is preparing a new Land Use Plan for the Port of Gladstone.
A new Land Use Plan is developed every eight years and provides an opportunity for the community to review and comment on how development on strategic port land is regulated and managed. The plan identifies strategic port land to be used for port and industry development, and provides the framework for GPC to assess and approve development on port land.
Under the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, GPC is required to prepare and release a Statement of Proposal when making or amending Land Use Plans. The Statement of Proposal identified matters GPC anticipates the Land Use Plan will address, states how GPC intends to address these matters. The Statement of Proposal and the new LUP process is shown here.
Public consultation is undertaken provides the opportunity for stakeholders to provide comment to GPC to assist in the development of the Land Use Plan. This public consultation on the Statement of Proposal closed on 8 September 2021.
State Development Area development schemes
State Development Areas (SDAs) are areas that have been designated by the Queensland Government under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971. There is an SDA at or adjacent to, both the Port of Gladstone and the Port of Bundaberg.
Development in SDAs is regulated by the Queensland Government in accordance with SDA development schemes.
Where strategic port land is located within an SDA, new development is regulated under the relevant SDA development scheme. However, any aspect of development on strategic port land that is not assessable under the SDA development scheme is assessable under the relevant GPC LUP and will still require development approval from GPC.