PORT of Brisbane (PBPL) CEO Neil Stephens has welcomed an announcement from the Queensland Government declaring the Channel Enhancement Project a coordinated project.

The proposed project would see POB oversee the dredging of material from Moreton Bay to deepen and widen existing shipping channels.

PBPL says it is still currently in the early stages of considering the future requirements of its shipping channel, amidst its announcement that the Queensland Government has deemed the project to require an environmental impact statement.

This project, PBPL says, is in response to the ever-increasing size of vessels that visit the east coast of Australia, importing and exporting goods that deliver billions of dollars’ worth of jobs and economic activity every year.

“The proposed 25-year Port of Brisbane Channel Enhancement Project aims to ensure the shipping channel servicing the port improves efficiency, reduces vessel emissions, and caters for the future needs of the global shipping market,” Mr Stephens said.

“As Queensland’s largest multi-cargo port, we remain deeply committed to investing in sustainable development which supports the growth of the Queensland economy.”

The proposed program of work will require approvals from both the state and federal governments.

“We welcome the decision by the Queensland Coordinator-General as a significant early step in the process and we look forward to working closely with State and Federal government agencies to develop the terms of reference for the project’s EIS,” Mr Stephens added.

“One of our fundamental roles is to invest in the sustainable development of the port, so we can facilitate the trade requirements needed to supply our region’s growing population.”

The Queensland Government website’s section on the channel enhancement project specifies that 96.5 million cubic metres of material would be dredged, with the “beneficial” reuse and disposal of the dredged material.

The project could require investment of approximately AUD$3.5 billion over 25 years, according to PBPL, also estimating the project to support up to 100 shore-based construction jobs for the wharf, and 40 jobs for ongoing operations.

In FY24, approximately AUD$72 billion in international trade was handled through the Port of Brisbane, including a record 1.61 million containers.

Per its initial advice statement on the project, the PBPL believes that, if the project is not undertaken, the result would see increasing ship delays as transit windows come under more demand, and said if Sydney and Melbourne’s ports undergo expansion, there is a long-term risk of the Port of Brisbane being downgraded to a feeder port.