The site has already attracted a proposal for a cement terminal worth more than $35 million.

The corporation has lodged a preliminary assessment with the NSW Planning Department.

According to the documents, the 90 hectares of port land would be divided into precincts a berth precinct, bulk and general precinct, general purpose, bulk liquid and a container terminal.

The plan would give a strategic overview of the site, against which project proposals could be considered, but would be more flexible than a master plan.

It would set out environmental compliance criteria for future projects at the site.

Corporation trade and port development general manager Mike Baudinette said the corporation expected to lodge the concept plan environment assessment in a few weeks.

But a corporation spokesman said it was a draft that had been superseded by the latest planning.

In May, the corporation called for expressions of interest for multi-cargo, multi-user developments at the site, which was designed to gauge interest for a major proposal.

Mr Baudinette said several proposals were received but it appeared the credit crisis limited the scope of responses.

However, Independent Cement and Lime has an application before the Planning Department for a cement terminal on about a hectare of the site.

It would have a throughput of about 600,000 tonnes of bulk dry cement and about 200,000 tonnes of ground slag.

It would require wharf unloading amenities at Mayfield No.4 berth, two 35,000-tonne storage silos and piping, and employ about 15 people.

Company group general manager Michael Byrne said the proposal was still in the early stages as the company was yet to sign a lease with the port corporation, and had no fixed timeframe.