The Port of Brisbane is Australia’s fastest growing container port, and Queensland’s largest general cargo port. The Port of Brisbane is located at the mouth of the Brisbane River, and since 1976 has been managed by the Port of Brisbane Corporation Limited (the Corporation), a Government Owned Corporation.
On 2 June 2009, the Premier of Queensland announced the State Government’s Renewing Queensland Plan, which included the sale of a number of government assets, including the Port of Brisbane Corporation Limited (the Corporation).
Divested assets
As part of this process, the Queensland Government has taken a number of steps using the Infrastructure Investment (Asset Restructuring and Disposal) Act 2009 to prepare the port for sale.
A series of transfers of non-port assets, previously owned by the Corporation to other government department and authorities, has already occurred and included:
1 October 2009 Bundaberg Port Corporation to Gladstone Ports Corporation.
9 April 2010 Northshore Hamilton to the Urban Land Development Authority (except for a number of port-related activities at Hamilton where the existing leases will remain the responsibility of the port until the leases expire).
1 June 2010 Boat harbours at Manly, Scarborough, Cabbage Tree Creek and moorings at Gardens Point to the Department of Transport and Main Roads. City Reach to the Department of Public Works. Other non-port land holdings to Department of Environment and Resource Management or the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
New company
The sale of the Port of Brisbane will be via a 99-year lease of the land and infrastructure and sale of the shares in the company operating the port. The Queensland Government through the Corporation will continue to own port land and infrastructure, and act as a landlord to the private sector lessee of the port.
From 1 July 2010, consistent with the approach taken in transferring the non-port assets in preparation for the sale, the Queensland Government transferred all equipment and machinery, including the dredging fleet, all employees of the Corporation and the operating rights associated with the Port of Brisbane to a new operating company - the Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd ACN 143 384 749 and ABN 78 143 384 749 (PBPL).
PBPL is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation and will continue to operate as a Government Owned Corporation subsidiary until the sale process is completed.
As the operator of the Port of Brisbane, PBPL has the charging rights associated with the operation of the port, and trade charges (harbour dues and wharfage) and other payments will be invoiced by and payable to PBPL.
Some activities and responsibilities associated with the “Port Authority” and “Assessment Manager” functions, and current and future capital projects will remain with the Corporation until the sale process is complete. However, these responsibilities will be carried out by PBPL on behalf of the Corporation.
The Queensland Government continues to provide information about the sale process on its website www.qld.gov.au/assetssale/ and can be contacted on 1800 188 570 for further information. We understand that the process is continuing and is scheduled for completion by the end of the calendar year.
In the meantime, PBPL will continue to be “here for the future” ensuring that major projects such as Wharves 11 and 12 and the duplication of the Captain Bishop Bridge are completed as planned; that the approach to the environmental stewardship of the port and its surrounding areas is maintained and the relationships with the community and our stakeholders continues to be fostered and developed.
The POrt of Brisbane Pty Ltd employs a workforce of over 350 people in over 20 different professions and trades. We have 12 different workplaces including Port Office, Port of Brisbane Operations Base, Port of Bundaberg, Reclamation Site Office, Landcare Site Office, the Brisbane, Brisbane Multimodal Terminal, Visitors Centre, Jetty Kiosk at Manly Boat Harbour, Port Central Cafe, Northshore Riverside Cafe, and our corporate office in the city.
We are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our employees, and aim to create a balanced corporate culture that delivers benefits to our staff and the Corporation.
We place a high priority on reducing the number of Lost Time Injuries, and encourage the development of our staff through trianing and professional development programmes.