1. What is the Critical Infrastructure Program?
The Program is being planned and delivered by the Lord Howe Island Board (the Board) and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) to address some of the most critical considerations to ensure a sustainable future for the Lord Howe Island community and its visitors. This includes:
- Servicing the Island with modern marine infrastructure that’s fit for the future
- Supporting the Island’s natural ecosystems and environment with appropriate biosecurity systems and infrastructure
- Sustainably managing, re-using and exporting waste generated on the Island.
The 2022/2023 and 2023/24 NSW budgets included significant funding for:
- Replacement of the waste management facility on Lord Howe Island
- Securing a new marine vessel, long-term marine freight service and marine infrastructure for the Island
- Biosecurity risk mitigation and control measures on Lord Howe Island and the mainland port.
Master plan designs for the upgraded waste management facility, biosecurity and marine infrastructure, including the cargo laydown area which will support ongoing vessel operations are available here – North Zone and South Zone Master Plan Designs | Lord Howe Island Board
2. Why do we need the Critical Infrastructure Program?
The Critical Infrastructure Program’s improvements and upgrades are providing essential infrastructure, to secure the Island’s future. The Program will include infrastructure projects that are critical to everyday life for Islanders, as well as to support its long-term future as a sustainable tourism destination.
Specific drivers include:
- The marine freight vessel and freight service is critical to the Island’s community and visitor economy and is being renewed, the current vessel will continue to service the Island in the interim.
- Lord Howe Island is an internationally renowned tourist destination, notably for its World Heritage status and environment and ecology. Contemporary and sustainable waste management is important to preserve environment values.
- The Islands’ biodiversity is recovering post several successful eradications. Improved biosecurity measures will protect the environment and the intrinsic values the community and economy depend on into the future.
The Board is committed to the Critical Infrastructure Program, the ongoing care, control, and management of the affairs and trade of the Island, and the care and welfare of residents.
Many businesses and residents of Lord Howe Island rely on the visitor economy. The Critical Infrastructure Program will support a resilient island community and visitor economy into the future.
3. What is the proposed timeline for planning and delivery of the Critical Infrastructure Program?
The Program commenced in early 2024. Planning, approvals, detailed design and construction works will be implemented over the next three years, with estimated completion end 2027.
The Program is currently at the detailed design stage of both the New Marine Vessel and the infrastructure delivery process. Site investigations are complete. Procurement for the operation and maintenance of the vessel to service the Island will be undertaken in early 2026.
Some early clean-up works at the Waste Management Facility have commenced in late-2025, however the main infrastructure construction works are not planned to commence until mid-2026. Works are anticipated to be ongoing for approximately 12-15 months, subject to the final detailed design.
4. What is the dollar value of the Program?
The NSW Government has made a significant investment in the Critical Infrastructure Program for Lord Howe Island. The Program is funded to sustain a marine vessel and service, waste management facility and biosecurity infrastructure for the Island into the future.
Funding details are confidential at this important stage to ensure a competitive market-based process. For this reason, the Program figures will not be publicly released at this stage. The price for the new marine vessel will be disclosed as required under the GIPA legislation, 45 business days following the contract award to Serco Australia.
5. What infrastructure is funded through the Critical Infrastructure Program (CIP)?
Funding for the Critical Infrastructure Program was the result of three business cases submitted to NSW Treasury for replacement of the Island’s waste management facility, marine infrastructure and ongoing biosecurity.
The 2023 marine infrastructure business case comprised three key components to secure the Island’s future freight service. This includes a freight transport vessel, a freight service operating model and Island based infrastructure. The Island based infrastructure considered the delivery of a new piled barge ramp, staging area for loading, unloading and sorting freight as well as related access roads.
A separate business case secured funding to replace Waste Management Facility infrastructure and equipment, including organics processing, materials recovery facility, chemical shed, community drop-off facilities and staff facilities.
In 2022, the Lord Howe Island Board secured funding through a biosecurity business case, that provided for ongoing operational costs and capital for infrastructure upgrades, particularly at the port of departure of the vessel. That infrastructure is being delivered through the Critical Infrastructure Program aligned with finalization of marine operations.
The master planning process which is now complete considers future options to ensure the best possible solutions for the Island’s community. It is important to note, however, that not all items shown in the North and South Zone master plans are funded by the Critical Infrastructure Program. As such these may be subject to future works and funding.
6. Will there be costs for the community associated with the Program?
The NSW Government has provided significant funding to develop and deliver capital works associated with the Program. There is no intent to recover these costs, or the operational costs of biosecurity which are fully funded into the future.
Ongoing user fees and charges will continue to apply for marine freight and the waste management facility.
7. Will there be local employment opportunities resulting from the Program?
Yes, there will be opportunities for members of the Lord Howe Island workforce as part of the construction phase, of the main infrastructure works – Main Infrastructure Works | Lord Howe Island Board
In addition, local employment opportunities associated with operation of the marine freight service (such as stevedoring and delivery of goods) will be determined and promoted through liaison with the Island’s community and businesses, in the first instance.
Roles associated with the waste management facility and biosecurity will be undertaken by the Lord Howe Island Board workforce and are not expected to increase.
Marine Freight Vessel
8. Why does Lord Howe Island need a new marine freight vessel?
Lord Howe Island is an internationally renowned tourist destination with up to 16,000 visitors annually – and up to 400 visitors at any one time.
Lord Howe Island is isolated, remote and cannot sustainably produce all its food and supply of general goods to meet demand. Like other inhabited islands around the world, Lord Howe Island is almost completely reliant on the mainland for most of its food supplies. Marine freight is also critical to Lord Howe Island for the carriage of other items including aviation fuel, diesel, petrol, gas, construction materials and waste removal.
9. What kind of vessel has the NSW Government procured for Lord Howe Island?
The new vessel will be a steel monohull cargo ship to transport cargo including general food and household goods, bulk liquid in IBC’s (aviation fuel, petrol) and in vessel storage tanks (diesel), construction materials, vehicles and other and bulk cargo. The vessel will also transport waste material from the island to the mainland on the westbound voyage.
The bespoke vessel has been designed to meet shallow draft and manoeuvrability requirements so that it can safely navigate into Lord Howe Island’s narrow channel and shallow lagoon, protecting the natural values of the World Heritage-listed island and marine park. Its design and operation will also help reduce biosecurity risks.
The new vessel also allows for intentional grounding alongside the wharf at Lord Howe Island, to allow operations across the tidal range. The vessel is capable of both lift on/lift off (LoLo) and roll on/roll off (RoRo) cargo handling.
10. Why was a RoRo vessel type selected?
The RoRo vessel type was selected to improve the safety of cargo handling.
The vessel is compatible with the operational characteristics and constraints of the lagoon and allows for safe and efficient loading and discharge of containers and other cargo including the option to ground the vessel under unfavourable conditions.
Containerisation also provides enhanced biosecurity control.
11. Why can’t we have another vessel with LoLo capability like the Island Trader?
The current vessel has limitations and inefficiencies, and improved worker and public safety are factored into the replacement vessel.
The existing vessel design requires all freight to be loaded and unloaded to the wharf individually via crane operations. The safety concerns for workers and the public cannot be resolved without replacement of the existing physical infrastructure.
The new marine freight vessel will have both RoRo and LoLo capability and will carry containerised and non-containerised cargo. This will improve operations and safety during unloading and loading – but continue to deliver flexibility to suit local conditions.
The new piled vessel ramp is required to support this capability while the existing jetty will remain operational for lifting operations of loose cargo by the ship’s crane and access for smaller recreational vessels such as fishing boats, tours, leisure cruises etc.
12. How did the NSW Government procure the new vessel?
A two-stage procurement process commenced by DCCEEW in July 2024 for the new marine vessel with an open approach to market via an international Expression of Interest (EOI) process. The EOI stage was open to ship builders and ship operators from around the world.
Following this EOI process, shortlisted applicants were invited to participate in a select tender process for the detailed design and build of the new marine freight vessel based on a detailed specifications and a reference design for a bespoke vessel capable of carrying the required cargo across the Tasman Sea and navigating the extremely shallow lagoon of Lord Howe Island.
A separate Request for Tender process will commence in early 2026 to seek submissions from a shortlisted group of marine freight operators to operate and maintain the new marine vessel and a fortnightly marine freight service between mainland NSW and Lord Howe Island.
13. Who won the tender for the design and build of the new marine freight vessel?
Serco Australia Pty Ltd was the successful tenderer for the detailed design and build of the new marine freight vessel.
Serco Australia partnered with respected ship designer IMC Naval Architects, an independent Australian naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy, to undertake the detailed design of the new vessel.
14. Will the community have any say in the vessel design?
Yes. The Lord Howe Island community will continue to be engaged and consulted as the design and build progresses.
Serco Australia was selected as the preferred tenderer to design and build the marine freight vessel based on a 20% design. A dedicated Project Control Group will be established to provide feedback as the design progresses and is finalised.
The Project Control Group will include representatives from Serco Australia and IMC Naval Architects, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Project Manager, Lord Howe Island Board Senior Project Officer Infrastructure, project managers from NSW Public Works, an elected Lord Island Board member and one Lord Howe Island community representative and alternate nominated from the established Community Consultation Group.
The Project Control Group will be involved in working through issues and risks associated with the design to ensure delivery of a bespoke vessel for Lord Howe Island that is safe, efficient and sustainable in the long term.
Recommendations from the Project Control Group will support the Lord Howe Island Board and the Lord Howe Island Critical Infrastructure Program Sponsors to make informed decisions on a final vessel design for construction.
15. But that’s only one community member? What about the rest of the community?
Lord Howe Island community members will be kept updated throughout the design and build of the vessel in several ways. This includes:
- Community Consultation Group meetings (bi-monthly).
- Householder updates – emailed and posted (monthly).
- Regularly articles in The Signal newspaper (bi-monthly).
- Lord Howe Island Board meetings (quarterly).
- Community information session (early 2026).
The community information session will include the presentation of vessel design drawings, and a 3D simulated animation that demonstrates how the RoRo/LoLo capability of the ship will work in situ.
This will provide community members with a visual simulation of how freight cargo loading and unloading from the vessel to the new cargo laydown area will operate.
16. How long will the new vessel last?
The new vessel will be designed, built and maintained to service Lord Howe Island for the next 40 years.
17. When will the vessel be completed and able to service Lord Howe Island?
The detailed vessel design will commence on contract award and the construction of the ship will take approximately 12-15 months. The vessel is expected to commence servicing Lord Howe Island by April 2027. The current vessel will continue to service the Island until that time.
18. Where will the vessel’s mainland NSW home port be?
The location of the vessel home port has not yet been determined and will be identified as part of the procurement process for the operator of the new marine freight service.
19. Who will own the new vessel?
The vessel will be wholly owned by the NSW Government.
20. Will the vessel carry passengers?
No. The new vessel will be in survey as a commercial freight vessel not a passenger vessel. The only people on board will be its crew members.
21. How many crew members does the new vessel require?
Five crew are required to operate the ship under the current Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) regulations for domestic commercial vessels in Australia.
22. How much cargo can the new vessel carry?
The new vessel will be designed to have enough cargo capacity to meet all Lord Howe Island’s freight requirements including for residents and visitor accommodation. The vessel will be able to carry a wide range of goods including food supplies, fuel, cold storage goods, building materials, vehicles, water tanks and miscellaneous items.
23. Will the vessel service any other islands?
The vessel is intended to provide a dedicated and exclusive freight service to Lord Howe Island. It is not intended to be used to service other islands.
Planning and Environmental approvals
24. How will environmental and marine impacts be managed through the Program, particularly during construction of the new vessel infrastructure, waste management facility, and related access roads/upgrades?
The Project Team continues to work closely with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) on the planning approvals as Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI). The CSSI process involves determining and obtaining all relevant planning and environmental approvals before construction can commence. Projects under the CSSI are subject to more stringent requirements than those under the Development Application process and will be designed and delivered with a view to minimize potential impacts to the natural environment including marine life.
Comprehensive flora and fauna surveys have been carried out on the island and in the surrounding lagoon to understand the baseline environment. These baseline conditions have formed the basis of environmental constraints informing the concept designs. The Environmental Impact Statement has documented this information and is available at https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/lord-howe-island-critical-infrastructure-project.
The Project Team will continue to regularly engage with DPHI and other Government stakeholders in order to consider and minimise impacts. The Project Team will also maintain ongoing engagement with the community, via the Community Consultation Group, which meet bi-monthly. The team are available to respond to any concerns relating to environmental / marine impacts via the Program’s email address: [email protected].
25. What are the potential impacts for the community and businesses during the Program’s construction phase?
A staged approach will be taken to minimise impacts to the community and businesses. Redevelopment of the waste management facility, cargo laydown area and development of new marine infrastructure are subject to a rigorous planning and environmental assessment process. For instance, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared that considers a wide range of issues such as noise, dust, broader environmental and social impacts. Community consultation was also a requirement of the EIS with the Public Exhibition held from 15 October to 18 November 2025. This provided another opportunity to comment and make a submission on the Program.
There may be a small increase in traffic periodically due to the importation and transport of building and construction materials. However, the project team will make every effort to minimise disruptions and the Contractor will notify the community in advance where possible. Environmental approvals will be sought around the new waste management facility, cargo laydown area and marine facilities, to ensure that this infrastructure minimises impact to the Island’s natural environment and Marine Park.
Waste Management Facility
26. Why does the existing waste management facility need to be upgraded?
The existing waste management facility requires urgent upgrades to be compliant with waste management standards and licence requirements and support ongoing needs of the Island. The Board continues to liaise with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the community to ensure that the new waste management facility meets best practice standards and is fit for purpose.
27. How will vehicle movements and traffic associated with the new waste management facility be managed, to ensure easy access for residents, businesses and trucks?
Analysis of traffic flows and movements have been undertaken to inform traffic planning and concept design relating to the new infrastructure. An architectural video animation of the new Waste Management Facility is available here - WMF public, WMF full facility
28. How will noise, litter and odour generated from the waste management facility be managed?
The new waste management facility has been designed to minimise noise, odour, visual impacts and energy use, and to maximise reuse and repurposing of waste where possible.
Biosecurity Measures and Infrastructure
29. What are the proposed biosecurity measures and infrastructure?
As part of the Critical Infrastructure Program, the Project Team is reviewing the biosecurity requirements for Lord Howe Island holistically, and how these relate to the new marine vessel and freight service. This involves ensuring the primary biosecurity facility associated with potential mainland ports is biosecure, and determining the appropriate biosecurity operational measures and infrastructure to be implemented on the mainland to minimise biosecurity risks for Lord Howe Island. These measures will be incorporated in a Biosecurity Risk Management Plan. Another important aspect of the review is ensuring the new vessel is designed and equipped to support improved biosecurity measures and to successfully integrate with the mainland port operations.
The Biosecurity Technical Advisory Group (BTAG) have informed, guided and advised on best practice requirements for the Program and projects.
Design plans for biosecurity infrastructure on the Island are complete which include the detection dog kennels and a biosecurity quarantine shed co-located with the Unstuffing Shed at the new Cargo Laydown Facility in the north zone.
30. What is proposed in terms of biosecurity related dog kennels?
As part of a holistic approach to the Island’s critical infrastructure, the Project Team has included the relocation of the dog kennels from their current premises at the Lord Howe Island Board to the to the Bureau of Meteorology site adjacent to the Airport. The newly designed dog kennels aim to improve efficiency of biosecurity operations and animal welfare.
An architectural video animation of the new dog kennels is available here - Detection Dog Kennels.
Community Consultation
31. How can I find out more and have my say on the Critical Infrastructure Program and projects?
The Project Team will continue to engage and update community on the Critical Infrastructure Program as follows:
- Community Consultation Group meetings (bi-monthly).
- Householder updates – emailed and posted (monthly).
- Regular articles in The Signal newspaper (bi-monthly).
- Lord Howe Island Board meetings (quarterly).
- Community information session (early 2026).
32. How can I stay in touch with the Project Team? Who can I contact with any questions or concerns about the Program?
We are keen to hear from you and other members of the community. You can email your feedback and enquiries to the Project Team at [email protected].
To find out more, please keep an eye on updates on the website Get involved and have your say | Lord Howe Island Board
And monthly community updates posted on the website Critical Infrastructure Program | Lord Howe Island Board