Land use planning

Have your say – Port of Gladstone Land Use Plan

GPC is seeking feedback on the draft 2024 Land Use Plan for the Port of Gladstone. Thank you to everyone who provided earlier feedback on the Statement of Proposal for this plan. The public consultation closes 5pm 18 March 2025. A new Land Use Plan is prepared 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. To have your say, visit www.engagegpc.com.au/gladstone-land-use-plan listed below.

Port Land Use Plans 

GPC currently has Land Use Plans (LUPs) for its strategic and operational port lands at 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 and Main Roads. LUPs identify strategic port land to be used for port and port-associated development and provides the framework for GPC to assess development on port land. The LUPs also list 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.  

A new LUP 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. Under the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, GPC is required to prepare and release a Statement of Proposal when making or amending LUPs, prior to developing the draft LUP for public consultation. 

Port of Gladstone Land Use Plan 

Public consultation for GPC’s 2024 draft LUP for the Port of Gladstone is open from 13 January to 18 March 2025.

Public consultation provides the opportunity for interested parties to have their say on the draft LUP prior to its submission for Ministerial approval. Earlier public consultation on the Statement of Proposal closed on 8 September 2021.

To have your say, use one (or more) of the following options.

  1. Online survey: Visit engagegpc.com.au/gladstone-land-use-plan and complete the online survey to share your feedback.
  2. Email a written submission to planning@gpcl.com.au
  3. Mail a written submission to: Gladstone Draft Land Use Plan Submission, Gladstone Ports Corporation, PO Box 259, GLADSTONE QLD 4680.
  4. Join an information drop-in session in Gladstone. Times and venues to be confirmed.

For more information about the Port of Gladstone LUP, contact GPC on 07 4976 1333 or visit www.engagegpc.com.au/gladstone-land-use-plan  

Master plan for the priority port of Gladstone

Port master planning facilitates sustainable development of priority ports in Queensland (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. This process is undertaken by the Queensland Government (Department of Transport and Main Roads).

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).

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.

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 a 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.