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Page last updated on 29-07-2026.
Supporting Information
This section contains supporting documentation that has informed the Port of Townsville's sea dumping permit application.
These documents are available to assist stakeholders seeking more detailed information about maintenance dredging and sea placement in Cleveland Bay.
Draft Long-Term Maintenance Dredging Management Plan 2027-2037
Serves as a key supporting document as it outlines the Port's long-term maintenance dredging and placement approach, including the environmental management framework, monitoring programs and proposed management measures for the 2027–2037 permit period.
Long-Term Maintenance Dredging Management Plan 2019-2029
Documents the monitoring, management and adaptive management measures implemented under the current sea dumping permit. Monitoring results, lessons learned and management outcomes from the 2019–2029 LTMDMP have informed the development of the draft LTMDMP for 2027–2037 and the proposed management framework for the permit application.
National Environmental Science Program
Risk Assessing Dredging Activities
As part of a National Environmental Science Program (NESP) research Project 2.1.9 Risk assessing dredging activities, the Port contributed monitoring data and operational information to improve understanding of the relationship between dredging, light availability and benthic habitats. The findings have informed the benthic water quality and light monitoring program, adaptive management measures and monitoring framework included in the LTMDMP and permit application. The benthic water quality and light program is included in the LTMDMP for the permit period 2027-2037.
Annual Seagrass Monitoring - JCU TropWater
Provides long-term trend data on seagrass condition across the Port and Cleveland Bay. The results have informed the environmental impact assessment, the LTMDMP, and the proposed seagrass monitoring and management measures for the 2027–2037 permit period.
Benthic Assessment
Provides information on the condition, recovery and resilience of benthic communities within and surrounding the Cleveland Bay DMPA. The findings inform the environmental impact assessment and support the proposed management and monitoring approach for dredged material placement.
Sediment and Dredging at GBR Ports
Provides a quantitative assessment of sediment processes at the Port of Townsville and within the Great Barrier Reef. The findings have informed the LTMDMP and permit application by providing context on natural sediment transport, sediment resuspension and maintenance dredging processes in Cleveland Bay. The report was independently peer reviewed by Dr Andy Symonds, providing additional confidence in the findings.
Improved Dredge Material Management for the Great Barrier
Reef Region - GBRMPA
Commissioned by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), this study evaluated alternative dredged material management options, including beneficial reuse, land-based disposal and alternative sea placement locations. The findings, together with the accompanying Interpretive Statement, informed the alternatives assessment in the LTMDMP and permit application by identifying the opportunities, constraints and environmental considerations associated with alternative dredged material management approaches. The study found that deeper offshore placement does not necessarily result in improved environmental outcomes and identified limited feasible beneficial reuse opportunities for maintenance dredged material at the Port of Townsville.
National Environmental Science Program
What's really damaging the Reef?
As part of a National Environmental Science Program (NESP) research Project 5.8 What’s really damaging the Reef? The publications improved understanding of the sources, composition and fate of sediments and associated nutrients within the Great Barrier Reef.
Tracing the origin and fate of the ecologically detrimental sediment and associated bioavailable nutrients provides research insights into the influence of the newly delivered sediment (i.e. from flood plumes) on turbidity regimes at coral reef and seagrass locations of the inshore GBR.
These findings have informed the LTMDMP and permit application by providing broader context on regional sediment inputs, natural sediment processes and their influence on water quality in Cleveland Bay and the wider coastal environment.
Project 5.8 - weblink What's really damaging the Reef? - NESP Report
Maintenance Dredging Strategy for Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Ports, DTMR, 2016
The MDS provides a framework for sustainable, leading practice management of maintenance dredging at ports in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, which includes the Port of Townsville. With 17 key guiding principles and 5 targeted actions, the strategy ensures maintenance dredging continues in an environmentally sustainable manner and provides safe and efficient navigation within Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area ports. The Strategy is based on the findings of a Technical Supporting Document.
A review completed in 2024 confirmed that the Strategy's actions had been completed and continue to be applied by Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area ports, including the Port of Townsville.
The MDS and associated technical information has informed the Port of Townsville’s LTMDMP for 2027-2037. The structure and content of the LTMDMP has been guided by the associated guideline from DTMR. The LTMDMP 2027-2037 will be attached to the permit application.