Environmental Management

NQBP is an environmentally responsible company that is committed to protection of the environment and the sustainable management of its ports and activities.

NQBP has an Environmental Management System developed to comply with AS/ISO 14001:2004 to ensure continual improvement in environmental performance.

NQBP leases land or infrastructure to other organisations to carry out port-related activities and has a planning, co-ordinating, facilitation and development function in the port. Generally, NQBP only operates port facilities in the Port of Mackay. The operators of facilities in the port generally have control over potential impacts of their activities, and any environmentally relevant activities they undertake are licensed by either the Department of Environment and Resource Management or the local council.

In its co-ordination role, NQBP carries out monitoring of the whole port environment to complement any monitoring carried out by facility operators. NQBP manages the potential impact of new projects through appropriate management plans.

The main activities carried out by NQBP are dredging to maintain navigable depths for ships and construction of port facilities. The impacts of these activities are controlled through appropriate environmental management plans, extensive environmental monitoring and close consultation with stakeholders.

The major environmental issues facing NQBP are:

  • achieving effective management of dredging

  • achieving environmentally sustainable development on port land

  • achieving environmentally sustainable use of the port by shipping, lessees and operators.