The Queensland Government has declared the Port Hinchinbrook Provisional Priority Development Area (PPDA), introducing the first planning designation of its kind in the state. The PPDA provides a framework to restore the area for tourism, commercial and residential use and address long-standing infrastructure and planning issues.
Port Hinchinbrook is a 140-hectare precinct located near Cardwell in North Queensland, close to Hinchinbrook Island National Park and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
The declaration follows years of uncertainty after Cyclone Yasi struck in 2011, which damaged infrastructure and disrupted access to surrounding waterways. Reduced navigability and planning constraints have limited activity across the precinct.
Authorities plan to reinstate access within the marina basin, Stony Creek canal and adjoining channels to improve vessel movement. The works are intended to restore safe passage for marine rescue services, recreational vessels and tourism operators.
Dredged material will be managed to minimise impacts on the Hinchinbrook Channel and surrounding marine environments, given the site’s proximity to nationally significant ecosystems. Measures to manage siltation and sediment are included to limit effects on nearby waters.
To guide how the restoration will proceed, the government introduced the Port Hinchinbrook Provisional Land Use Plan (PLUP) as the statutory planning framework for the area. The PLUP details how land use, infrastructure and future development within the PPDA will be managed.
The draft plan was open for public comment for 21 business days between 11 November and 9 December 2025. During that time, Economic Development Queensland invited feedback from residents, businesses and community groups through mail, sessions in Cardwell and online submissions.
In total, 34 submissions were received. Changes were summarised in a report before the plan took effect on 19 February 2026.
Work required to prepare for dredging began in February 2026, and project completion is scheduled for November 2028.
