North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) has announced the release of the Abbot Point Voluntary Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA), which it believes is the first collaborative study of its kind undertaken in Australia.

 

NQBP’s CEO, Brad Fish, said the CIA shows that that the future port development will not compromise the health of the surrounding environmental areas, such as the Great Barrier Reef.

 

“The cumulative impact work will be crucial in helping regulators, proponents and the public to better understand the collective impact of expansion at Abbot Point, including mitigation measures designed to continue to protect the outstanding universal values of the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Fish said.

 

The CIA is made up of 16 comprehensive environmental studies covering all aspects of the environment, including shipping, fishing, noise, dredging, marine and terrestrial biodiversity, and visual amenity. These studies have been conducted and reviewed by scientific experts including eminent university scientists, environmental consultants, port industry professionals and maritime safety experts.

 

One of the key elements of the CIA is the Great Barrier Reef-wide shipping study. It provides robust forecasts of shipping increases over the next 20 years and examines the potential environmental risks from commercial shipping within the context of current and future maritime regulation and management. 

 

The study concluded that with responsible management in place, future shipping increases do not pose a substantive risk to the Great Barrier Reef. A number of recommendations have been included in the report to maintain and expand best practice environmental management of future shipping activity.

 

More information can be found here