The Port - Environment

The Port of Townsville is unique in comparison to many of the world’s ports in that it is located within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Sensitive natural habitats include a dugong protected area, seagrass beds, fringing coral reefs and mangrove forests.

The Authority is committed to working with the wider port community to ensure that port activities are carried out in an environmentally responsible manner and have minimal impacts on the receiving environment.

Craig Wilson testing water quality in the Eastern Port Development reclamation area.

Townsville Port Authority has identified the environment as a key result area in the management of port operations.

The aim of this policy is to establish an overall approach to sustainable port development and operation and responsible environmental management, resulting in the continual improvement of environmental performance.

The scope of this policy includes all activities for which Townsville Port Authority has responsibility. This does not include the activities of port clients, as the Authority recognises that port clients are responsible for their own environmental management and to a degree Townsville Port Authority does not have the authority to exercise managerial control over individual port operators. However, Townsville Port Authority recognises the benefits to coordinate environmental management initiatives of the wider port community and will attempt to control the various interfaces with port operators where applicable.

Checking dust deposition gauges in the port

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Townsville Port Authority will:

Give due regard to environmental concerns in all planning and development decisions.

Improve environmental awareness throughout the Authority and wider port community.

Develop and maintain systems which act to minimise the risk of environmental harm which incorporate identification, reporting, assessment, monitoring and control of risks.

Establish and maintain a framework for setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets.

Ensure compliance with all environmental legislation, regulations and other applicable requirements.

Incorporate environmental concerns into all decision-making processes to establish a fully integrated system.

Ensure that all TPA employees, contractors, suppliers and visitors are made aware of their obligations with respect to this Policy.

Develop and implement relevant research and monitoring programs to protect the environment, improve environmental management and assess the Authority’s environmental performance.

Establish clear consultation procedures to provide input into the development of future regulatory requirements.

Townsville Port Authority will, by incorporating this policy in the day-to-day management of port operations, ensure that responsible environmental management is a key result area in the management of the Port of Townsville.

The Cleveland Bay Consortium is an informal industry/research forum for the discussion of the sustainable use of the environments of Cleveland Bay.

For environmental enquiries please contact:

		Ms Melinda Louden
Position		Environmental Officer
Telephone		+ 61 7 4781 1619
Fax		+ 61 7 4781 1601
E-mail		mlouden@townsville-port.com.au