Port Hinchinbrook

Key details

The Port Hinchinbrook Provisional Priority Development Area (PPDA) – Queensland’s first – was declared on 10 November 2025 to address long-standing challenges and restore the 140-hectare site into a thriving tourism, commercial and residential precinct.

Located near Cardwell in North Queensland, the area is surrounded by Hinchinbrook Island National Park and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, boasting ecological treasures and a lifestyle unique to the region.

By addressing long-standing infrastructure challenges and resolving complex planning issues, the PPDA will deliver long-lasting benefits for Port Hinchinbrook, Cardwell and the wider Cassowary Coast region.

A PPDA will enable the Queensland Government to act quickly and reverse Cyclone Yasi’s protracted impacts. It is a temporary planning instrument designed to accelerate implementation and is typically in effect for three years.

Provisional Land Use Plan

The Provisional Land Use Plan (PLUP) is the key planning document for the Port Hinchinbrook PPDA. It provides planning controls to guide infrastructure and ensure the precinct’s restoration aligns with the overarching vision of creating a thriving tourism, commercial and residential precinct.

The PLUP officially came into effect on 19 February 2026.

The draft PLUP was publicly notified from 11 November to 9 December 2025. A submissions report summarises the feedback received during the consultation period and outlines the changes made to the PLUP in response to community and stakeholder input.

Infrastructure

The Port Hinchinbrook PPDA will deliver significant infrastructure improvements, including:

• Waterway restoration: Restoring navigability of the destination’s waterways, Stony Creek canal and access channels to support marine safety and functionality.
• Public spaces: Enhancing public and community facilities to improve the precinct’s appeal for residents and visitors.
• Long-term access and maintenance: Establishing a long-term maintenance regime for waterways and public infrastructure to ensure ongoing viability.

These upgrades will support tourism, attract private investment and create jobs for the local community.

Community consultation

Find out more on the Port Hinchinbrook have your say page here.

Development assessment

Development within the Port Hinchinbrook PPDA will be assessed against the Provisional Land Use Plan (PLUP) once it is finalised.

Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) will oversee the development assessment process to ensure that all projects contribute to the restoration of Port Hinchinbrook and deliver long-term benefits for the community.

Port Hinchinbrook PDA boundary map