PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has warned that the new Sustainable Ports Development Bill, which is aimed at protecting the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, would mean increased costs for port operators in the state.

State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham introduced the Bill to Parliament on Wednesday, saying that it would boost economic development around Queensland’s four regional priority ports and help protect the Great Barrier Reef.

“The state government is delivering on our election and Reef 2050 long-term sustainability plan commitments to protect the reef by banning sea-based disposal of capital dredged material from ports in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and restricting port-related capital dredging,” Lynham said.

“At the same time, we are supporting economic development, investment and job creation by master planning these priority ports and their precincts.

“The Queensland economy relies on our ports, particularly these four major bulk commodity ports in, and adjacent to, the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This Bill gives us the balance we need.”

Lynham said that the Bill would prevent disposal of capital dredge spoil from ports in the Great Barrier Reef area, stop the development of new ports in the Great Barrier Reef area, and would mandate master plans for all four priority ports, supporting further local development and investment.

It was argued that master planning would make the port precincts more attractive to potential developers and investors.

QRC CEO Michael Roche said that while all Australians would welcome the renewed focus on protecting the reef system, with the Bill setting a benchmark for port regulations world-wide, the new regulation would come at an economic cost to the state.

“Over time the legislated ban on disposal at sea of material from capital dredging will mean that some future necessary port developments will not proceed or be scaled back due to cost or lack of disposal/reclamation options,” Roche said.

“While the Bill’s requirements are onerous and exacting, the resources sector recognises they are in keeping with the Queensland government’s commitments contained in Reef 2050 - the reef long-term sustainability plan.”

The priority ports, Townsville, Abbot Point, Gladstone, Hay Point/Mackay, represent trade worth A$32-billion and shifted 77% of the total throughput of all Queensland ports in 2013/14.

Master planning starts for the Gladstone and Abbot Point ports later this year, while the Hay Point/Mackay and Townsville ports would undergo the process next year.

The Bill will now go to the committee as part of the regular Parliamentary process and be open to submissions from the public before being debated in the future.