The Port of Gladstone is Queensland's largest multi-commodity port and the fifth largest multi-commodity port in Australia. It is the world's fourth largest coal exporting terminal.[1] It forms and integral part of the City of Gladstone in Central Queensland and is located about 525 km north of Brisbane at Latitude of 23°49.61’S, Longitude 151°34.6’E. It is owned and managed by the Gladstone Ports Corporation, which is a statutory corporate body of the Government of Queensland.
Major exports include coal, alumina, aluminium, cement products and liquid ammonia. Coal makes up 70% of the total exports from the port.[2] Each year 50 million tonnes of coal passes through the port. Major imports include bauxite and petroleum products as well as general cargo in containers.
In 2008, the Queensland Government announced A$20.9 million worth of funding for the port which included A$4.3 million for dust suppression measures.[3] Expansion plans in the port include the development of LNG exports, expansion of existing coal terminals and alumina refinery as well as a possible nickel refinery.
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The port consists of a number of wharves and terminal facilities. Auckland Point was where coal exporting began in 1925 and later live horse exports occurred in the mid 1930s.[4] Barney Point was used to export coal from Moura. The facilities here were incorporated into the Port of Gladstone in November 1998.[4]
The first berth at Fisherman’s Landing was completed in 1980. A second berth was built in the 1990s and this area is earmarked for future expansion.[4] Boyne Wharf is used by the Boyne Island aluminium smelter and was opened in August 1982.[4] Two berths at South Trees have been used by Queensland Alumina Limited.[4] RG Tanna Coal Terminal was opened in 1997 and is used to export coking coal to Japanese steel mills.[4]