Port users and emergency services personnel were among more than 20 people today to receive a detailed update and briefing on the Mackay Port Authority’s draft security plan covering the harbour precinct.

The security plan is currently being reviewed by the Department of Transport and Regional Services and under Federal legislation must be fully operational by July 1.

Port operations manager John Kraft said the briefing gave all parties an opportunity to ask additional questions about the implementation and impact the plan would have on port operations.

Mr Kraft said Mackay was expected to be one of the first ports in Australia to have its plan approved by the Federal Government.

The security plan has taken almost 18 months to prepare.

“There’s been extensive consultation with port users and other interested parties and we are expecting the government to sign off on the plan any day now,” he said.

Mr Kraft said public access to the port would soon be restricted with the construction of an additional two kilometres of security fencing.

“Overall the security cordon will involve about five kilometres of fencing. Automatic boom gates will also be installed on Harbour Road and on Edmund Casey Drive,” he said.

While the main commercial area of the port will be off limits to the public, people will retain access to the southern breakwater.