Brisbane wharves to extend 4km into Moreton Bay under $3.5b proposal

The Port of Brisbane is seeking state and federal government approval to dredge 96.5 million cubic metres of material from Moreton Bay to allow for larger shipping lanes and an expanded freight precinct.

Under the $3.5 billion project, shipping channels would be made deeper, and wider, with the spoils potentially dumped along the shoreline to allow for more port facilities on the airport side of the Brisbane River.

The consortium that operates the port has approval to extend Fisherman Island, on the southern side of the river, and recently struck an extraordinary 50-year agreement to continue dumping surplus spoils around Mud Island.

Under plans submitted to governments for approval, shipping lanes would be made deeper and wider, with the dredge spoils possibly used in a massive land reclamation project.Credit: Nearmap

However, the amount of material proposed to be removed under the 25-year Channel Enhancement Project is unprecedented and would require new dump sites – Dredge Material Placement Areas – in and around the bay.

Documents lodged with the governments nominate a new reclamation area at Juno Point, near Brisbane Airport, which would allow for the eventual construction of parallel wharves extending about four kilometres into the bay.

Other options include a further expansion of Fisherman Island towards Mud Island, and dumping more material in central or northern areas of the bay.

The consortium has sought to engage traditional owners and would need environmental approvals for the project to proceed, given its proximity to the Moreton Bay Marine Park and the Moreton Bay Ramsar wetland.

Ministers have been briefed on the project in the lead-up to the Queensland and federal elections. It could become a political issue, given the recent rejection of a project found to threaten the wetland and tensions over aircraft noise generated by the Brisbane Airport expansion.

The consortium has warned governments the port would be left behind, with flow-on implications for businesses and consumers, if the project was not approved.

“The project will involve the development of primarily a safer, but also a more efficient shipping channel over a period of approximately 25 years and will reduce the risk of trade disruption and foregone economic opportunity for Queensland,” states the initial advice statement, dated August 2024.

“If the project does not go ahead, it is likely that larger ships will bypass Queensland for other states, reducing its competitiveness.”

The consortium released a separate discussion paper in February, canvassing various scenarios for the future of its facilities and an ambition to become “Australia’s premier port and logistics hub”.

In one scenario, the consortium envisaged its 7.5km quay line being expanded to 12.7km by 2060 to accommodate larger vessels, increased cargo volumes, and more cruise ships.

While the consortium sought feedback on the discussion paper, it submitted documents on the project to governments before releasing a final plan.

The project was referred to federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek in July and declared a co-ordinated project by the Queensland government late last week.

The consortium has told the governments the project could start in 2028 and create or support 140 jobs.

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