tradeboats.com.au 11Regional ports play an
important role in the
economic and social
prosperity of coastal
communities by providing
opportunities for
employment, tourism and
recreation. They also make
a signifi cant contribution to
the state economies through
primary industries such
as commercial fi shing and
aquaculture.
In New South Wales, the
Department of Industry
(Lands) has devised the
Regional Ports Strategy
Development (the
Strategy), a comprehensive
undertaking to guide future
investment and operations
in regional ports under
its management. For
this purpose, “ports” are
navigable waters where
vessels may lie for shelter
or to transfer cargo or
passengers, comprising
both natural and man-made
assets, and typically existing
within larger harbours.
The Strategy applies
to 25 coastal ports along
the NSW coast (outside
the commercial Ports of
Newcastle, Sydney, Port
Botany and Port Kembla),
which have been identifi ed
as priority locations for
economic growth and
development to facilitate
increased tourism,
community enjoyment and
active use of the port and
foreshore areas.
Work on the Strategy
began in 2015 with a
thorough review of existing
assets and their condition,
as well as issues relating
to heritage, environment
and economic activity.
There then followed
extensive consultation
with government, industry
and community bodies to
identify options that best
meet the needs of each
regional port. During the
coming year the Department
will review community
and stakeholder feedback,
identify and prioritise key
opportunities, undertake
an economic assessment
of those opportunities
and proceed with
implementation of site-
specifi c projects.
While the Strategy is
focused on the physical
assets, it proceeds from
an understanding of
external infl uences, such
as surrounding areas and
the natural environment
in which they operate. The
Department recognises that,
in many cases, its assets
stand alongside those owned
by others or are related to
parts of the waterways, such
as entrances, breakwaters
and channels, that affect all
users.
Some areas of the NSWcoastline are also subject
to a number of related
government projects
for the construction
or maintenance of
infrastructure to support
recreational boating (like
NSW Better Boating), or
programs that may change
the way the marine estate
is managed, such as
commercial fi shing. Some
coastal locations have been
subject to, or are in the
process of, master planning
or new tourism initiatives by
local councils.
In short, the Strategy
forms part of a larger mosaic
of coastal development,
of which regional ports
are a key element, and will
be integrated with other
projects to ensure that
the Department’s work
helps to achieve broader
objectives. It’s early days yet
and it may be some years
before the Strategy starts
to show tangible results,
but its comforting to know
that the Department has
the interests of the boating
community at heart and
is working towards the
enhancement of vital
maritime infrastructure.
For more information
about the Strategy and
site-specifi c analyses of
the 25 regional ports, go to
http://yourportcrownland.
engagementhq.com/about.NSW Regional Ports
Strategy Development