We are committed to operating in a responsible and sustainable manner to minimise adverse impacts and enhance the local environment
NSW Ports' works in partnership with port users, regulators and the local community to maintain the natural environmental values of the locations where we operate. We actively conserve ecological and cultural heritage values at our sites for the benefit of current and future generations.
Environmental Management Framework
NSW Ports ensures its operations are conducted within the guidelines of applicable environmental licences and legislation. NSW Ports leases land to port and intermodal tenants who are directly responsible for the environmental performance for both the development and operation of their leased sites. We work constructively with tenants and facility users to promote good environmental practice and compliance with all relevant legislation.
Environmental licenses
Under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, NSW Ports holds an Environmental Protection Licences in relation to the operation of Berth 104 at Port Kembla. Berth 104 is a common-user facility which can be used for handling a broad variety of bulk products. NSW Ports holds an environment protection licence for shipping in bulk at this facility. A Pollution Incident Response Management Plan has been prepared to protect human health and the environment in the event of a pollution incident at the berth.
Berth 104 Pollution Incident Response Management
A large number of our tenants also hold licenses for scheduled activities at the port and they are responsible for managing and operating in accordance with those licenses.
Major project compliance
NSW Ports holds approvals for several Major Projects where we are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Conditions of Approval. These conditions set out requirements for the environmental management of the construction and operation of the facility and for ongoing community engagement.
The environmental impacts of port developments are thoroughly assessed prior to commencement of work. Impact assessments consider the likely effects of proposed developments on air and water quality, noise levels, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, traffic and transport systems, public access and amenity and sustainability principles.
Once approved, project-specific environmental management plans are prepared to monitor and protect the environment during construction and operation. Active dialogue is maintained with regulators and local residents to ensure that management practices are in accordance with legal requirements and community expectations.
The following projects have project specific pages with information relating to environmental, sustainability and community aspects:
Maintaining the Environment
Each of our facilities has its own unique environmental aspects. We are committed to supporting and maintaining the natural environmental values of the locations where we operate, and to minimising adverse impacts on the surrounding environment.
- Close residential communities to our ports and intermodal terminals.
- Habitat for the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog.
- Wetlands and waterways supporting a wide variety of native species.
- Open waters of Botany Bay and Port Kembla Harbour.
- Emissions to air, land and water resulting from 24/7 operations.
NSW Ports leases land to port and intermodal tenants who are directly responsible for the environmental performance for both the development and operation of their leased sites. We work constructively with tenants and facility users to promote good environmental practice and compliance with all relevant legislation.
Noise
Our port and intermodal facilities operate 24/7 to facilitate the import and export of trade goods that are essential to the businesses and people of New South Wales. Port and intermodal activities can generate different levels and types of noise.
We undertake our own ongoing noise monitoring and work closely with our port and intermodal tenants and the Environmental Protection Agency to manage any concerns.
Click here for more information about noise monitoring at Port Botany.
Emissions to air, land and water
Port and intermodal operations, both vessel and land based, are generally ongoing 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, to service the needs of the state and the economy, but they have the potential to generate emissions to air, land and water that can disrupt the surrounding environment.
NSW Ports works with and supports the government organisations responsible for the management of pollution of air, land and water. And we manage our facilities and operations in such a way as to minimise impacts on our receiving environments which include the open waters of Botany Bay and Port Kembla Harbour.
Biodiversity, Conservation and Biosecurity
Green and Golden Bell Frog habitat
At Port Kembla and Enfield, we maintain breeding ponds and associated habitat areas for the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea). The Green and Golden Bell Frog was once common along the NSW coast but is now endangered as a result of habitat loss, predation by feral animals and introduction of the harmful chytrid fungus. NSW Ports has established GGBF habitats at Port Kembla and the Enfield ILC to provide areas for breeding, foraging and overwintering.
Habitat remediation works at Sir Joseph Banks Park, Botany
At Port Botany, a collaborative partnership established in 2018 with ourselves, Bayside Council and Conservation Volunteers Australia provides funding for environmental conservation works at Sir Joseph Banks Park, Botany. Since launching this collaboration, the project has focused on the remediation and restoration of habitat at Sir Joseph Banks Park, a significant nature reserve on the Botany foreshore, containing the Endangered Ecological Community, Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, whilst also providing rare urban habitat for a myriad of flora and fauna species.
2020 Update
Learn more
Project launch
Learn more
Conservation Volunteers Australia
Biosecurity
A biosecurity incident is an unintentional, unforeseen or uncontrolled exposure to exotic pests, foreign organic material or diseases. NSW Ports is a member of the NSW Government's Marine Pest Working Group and works closely with government agencies to support biosecurity inspections and studies at our ports.
Procedures have been established at our ports to guide how to respond to biosecurity incidents.
Biosecurity Incident Response Procedure documents:
Heritage items
Port Botany Revetment Wall
Port Botany
The revetment wall is an integral feature of Port Botany built between 1972 and 1975 designed to absorb and dissipate the large forces of storm waves and prevent the movement of sand through waves and tides. It is a 2km long structure comprised of over 2 million tonnes of igneous rocks. It is a locally significant heritage item as it represents an integral development in the transition of Sydney's port facilities to cater for large deep draft vessels. The revetment wall is testimony to the re-design of Sydney's port system that was needed to maintain a world class facility and demonstrated the massive investment of materials and energy required to re-engineer a landscape.
Bunnerong Power Station Canal
Port Botany
The Bunnerong Power Station Canal is a remnant of the demolished Bunnerong Power Station which was constructed between 1929 and 1947. The construction of the Bunnerong Power Station represented an important milestone in the growth of Sydney, reflecting the expansion of the city in the 1920s and 1930s and the need for the City Council to provide infrastructure for this growth.
Mobile Block Setting Steam Crane
Port Kembla
The Mobile Block Setting Steam Crane is considered to be of state significance for its rare and representative qualities. It represents a tangible link with construction and earlier phases of maintenance of the Outer Harbour eastern breakwater. It comprises a riveted sectional steel frame housing the steam engine and crane (cable and pulley) mechanism. The structure is mounted on an isolated rail track with a line of four-wheel dump wagons located on a third parallel track. The Crane and its associated wagons are rare at a state level as they are believed to be the only remaining type of a class of cranes in operation around NSW and throughout Australia. It is a representative example of a mid-sized mobile steam crane, a class of machinery which was widespread throughout the state during the early to mid-1900s.
Historical Military Museum
Port Kembla
The Historical Military Museum is of local significance in the Wollongong area as a site of coastal defence during World War Two. It comprises of a four-storey brick and concrete structure, made to initially resemble a block of flats, and a gun pillbox, also constructed of brick and concrete. The Museum building has local technical/ aesthetic significance as it provides a good example of subterfuge to disguise the presence of a defence installation.
Breakwater Battery
Port Kembla
The Breakwater Battery is of local historic significance in the Wollongong area as a site of coastal defence during World War 2. The Battery consist of two mass concrete gun emplacements which housed 6" ex-Naval guns. Also present next to the northern emplacement is an underground magazine constructed of brick and concrete. The Battery has local technical significance as it gives a general understanding of the spatial layout of a coastal defence fortification of the Second World War.
Concrete Tank Barriers
Port Kembla
The Concrete Tank Barriers were originally placed on beaches to prevent tank movement. The Barriers are 900-1200mm high concrete tetrahedrons. The barriers are demonstrative of an effective means of delaying an invading force, and defending a potential landing site with minimal cost and resources. The Barriers located in Heritage Park Port Kembla were originally located at Berkeley Harbour in Lake Illawarra, therefore they are not located in their original context, or in an area demonstrative of their original use.
Tarpaulin Factory
Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre
The Tarpaulin Factory is a state significant heritage item that is a rare example of a railway building using a cast iron structure with lightweight walling. The building is made from the former transhipping shed at Sydney Yard (originally constructed in Sydney around 1890). It was dismantled at its original location in early 1920's and reassembled at Enfield. It illustrates a classic style of railway structural cast and wrought iron construction system once common in the 19th Century. The building is highly significant as the sole surviving example of this type of railway industrial building in NSW. The building is also the last surviving part of the former Sydney Yard goods station. During the 1939-45 War, canvas war material was fabricated here including tents, stretchers, canvas water bags, anklets and many other items.
Pillar Water Tank
Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre
This moulded concrete water tank was designed and produced ca.1918 as a watering station for steam-driven locomotives. Very little is known of the design and origin of this form of tank within the railway system and this tank is thought to be the last surviving pillar tank of the NSW Government railway system giving it state historical significance.
MCS HRT Administration Building
Cooks River Intermodal Terminal
The MCS HR T Admin Building comprises the 1961 former staff Amenities and Yard Administration building which contributes to an understanding of the evolving management practices at Cooks River Container Terminal after containerisation. It is a locally significant modified representative example of a mid-20th century brick Department of Railways designed staff and management facilities.
Pre-cast Concrete Hut 1 & 2
Cooks River Intermodal Terminal
There are two pre-cast concrete huts on the Cooks River Terminal that are of moderate local significance. They are representative of intact NSW Department of Railways signal relay huts from around 1950 and were utilised to house communications and electrical equipment.
Laydown Points Lever
Cooks River Intermodal Terminal
The Lever is an example of a relatively rare, spiked down, and now redundant points lever that is specific to ports and goods yards like the Cooks River Container Terminal. Provision of track and yard equipment at Cooks River during 1947/48 included the installation of Thompson Levers and Throw-over levers at points and sidings. Continual improvements to track and siding arrangements were carried out between 1955 and 1979. A modified version of a Thompson Points Lever to a lay down design was used wherever it was necessary to drive over the point or where the points were a trip hazard while loading rail cars at ports or freight loading facilities. As such these modified designs are relatively rare point levers and have local historical significance.
Electric Overhead Travelling Crane Rail
Cooks River Intermodal Terminal
The Crane is the last remaining crane originally in operation on the Cooks River Intermodal. It is of local heritage significance and contributes to an understanding of freight handling systems at Cooks River Terminal prior to containerisation. The first four 10 ton Electric Overhead Travelling Cranes were ordered for installation at Cooks River Goods Yard in 1950-54. The Electric Overhead Travelling Cranes serving sidings No 1, 2 and 3 were installed on the site by 1955. These cranes were not suitable to use with containers and were phased out by the 1980s.
