Key upgrades needed on the Port of Mackay for renewable energy

Key upgrades to the Port of Mackay could open doors to renewables as a new study reveals North Queensland Ports’ billion-dollar benefits.

The Mackay Port contribute $1 billion to the state annually. Photo: Contributed

Key upgrades are needed if the Port of Mackay is to open doors to renewable energy infrastructure as new products make their way to the region.

The upgrades, which are currently marked as potential investment opportunities, would include installing greater concrete hardstands to house shipping containers, a larger crane and an extension to the existing berth to allow for longer cargo such as wind turbine blades to dock the port.

The CEO of North Queensland Bulk Ports Brendan Webb at Harrup Park for the NQBP function. Photo: Luke Lay

The CEO of North Queensland Bulk Ports Brendan Webb said this would allow renewables to come to the region.

“At the moment we don’t have the infrastructure long enough to take long wind blades,” he said.

“ We can take the heavy components like the motors and the tower, but not the blades.”

Key upgrades will be needed to support renewable energy imports like the wind turbine blades. Picture: Alan Barber

Once on land, the blades could run through areas such as the Forgan Bridge but a Mackay Port Access road would greatly benefit the supply route, he explained.

“The port access is about traffic separation, keeping the heavy vehicles away from the light vehicles,” he said.

“It would mean we would have less trucks, which would reduce the carbon footprint.”

Last week it was revealed that the Mackay Port Access road would endure a cost blowout of $1 billion increasing the bill of the project by 327 per cent.

It is now unclear whether the state government will run ahead with the project with the State Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg saying his party would “consider a sustainable and transparent strategy to deliver the infrastructure program” as part of the upcoming budget.

Resource Industry Network General Manager Dean Kirkwood said windfarms had been slated for the Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac regions.

“I think having renewable projects in our area is certainly another strand to what we bring as a region,” he said.

“I think the traditional industries around the coal sector and also agriculture will remain strong.”

It comes as fresh NQBP data reveals the Mackay, Hay Point and Abbot Point ports combine to contribute up to $32 billion annually to the state’s pocket.

Ports Australia CEO Mike Gallacher hopes the report can inform the government on the importance of supporting regional ports. Photo: Luke Lay

The Port of Mackay, with its main supply of fuel and sugar cane contributed $1 billion supplying up to 2000 jobs.

Mr Webb said new grain products such as sorghum and chickpea were coming through and he hoped to see non-perishable products like tyres and spare parts to make their way to Mackay.

Bowen’s Abbot Point port, the country’s northern most coal exporter saw figures of up to $10 billion contributed annually to the state’s budget while Hay Point further south, a major exporter in mainly in metallurgical coal - a key ingredient to producing steel - contributed $21 billion.

Ports Australia CEO Mike Gallacher said the findings showed regional ports were “punching above their weight”.

“This is the first time we’ve done such a report at a national level and it shows you that Australian maritime trade is in excess of $650 billion a year and that equates to facilitating 700,000 jobs in Australia,” he said.

Originally published as Key upgrades needed on the Port of Mackay for renewable energy