Growing trade demands and changes in technology has meant the size and number of vessels using our channels has increased. For GPC to continue facilitating trade in our ports, and to ensure we can safely accommodate vessels, we occasionally undertake maintenance and capital dredging.

Dredging means digging, excavating or removing material from waterways to deepen channels, create harbours, and keep channels and approaches to ports at defined depths.

Our maintenance dredging programs allow us to safely perform shipping movements using our existing channels while capital dredging creates new channels and expands existing channels. Both dredging programs are regulated by the Commonwealth and State Governments.

• What is Dredging Fact Sheet
• Fact Sheet: Why Queensland ports need to dredge

Maintenance dredging

The Port of Gladstone and Port of Rockhampton are identified as Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) ports.

​GPC has developed Long-term Maintenance Dredging Management Plans (LMDMPs) for these ports in alignment with the Queensland Ports Maintenance Dredging Strategy (MDS) framework. This framework addresses the requirements of the Reef 2050 Plan Water Quality Action 16 (WQA16) which aims to ensure the ongoing protection of the reef’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and the continued operating efficiency of ports within the GBRWHA.

Used by individual ports, LMDMP’s are developed in a transparent manner to create a management framework with a future focus of 10 or more years to promote continuous improvement. To assist with the development our LMDMPs, stakeholder engagement has been undertaken with our Technical Advisory and Consultative Committee (TACC) and other interested stakeholders.

​Under the LMDMP framework, our maintenance dredging activities are reviewed in consultation with stakeholders (including the TACC) to ensure they remain consistent with leading practice management.