Gladstone Port Corporation (GPC) will represent Australia in the 2019 World Ports Sustainability Program’s Sustainability Awards for its Indigenous Land Use Agreement.
GPC exists in the Koongo, place of water, and the Yallarm, place of shells, on the lands of the Byellee, Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang and Taribelang Bunda nations.
In 2014, the Port developed the Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with these nations, recognising not only the importance of the natural area to the people but also the importance of the people to the Port as employees, customers and community members.
This agreement has now been nominated for the World Ports Sustainability Program’s (WPSP) Sustainability Awards in the category of Governance and Ethics.
The agreement exists to ensure the responsible and respectful management of the lands and sea on which the Port does business to deliver sustainable and mutual prosperity. It covers most of the Port precincts including Port of Gladstone, Bundaberg and Rockhampton.
Through the agreement, GPC supports the Indigenous Land Use Fund, which in turn supports projects and initiatives that develop, educate and enhance the community and its environment.
Chief Executive of Ports Australia, Mike Gallacher, congratulated the entire team at GPC, saying the Port’s relationship with the Byellee, Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang and Taribelang Bunda people was based on respect.
“The Port and the local people have existed together for over 100 years. This is a vital economic area and a vital cultural area, working together with mutual respect has yielded some truly amazing results that we are incredibly proud of,” Mr Gallacher said.
“I’d like to encourage everyone in the Port community, Gladstone, Bundaberg and Rockhampton to get behind the Port and their local people by voting in the awards.”
The agreement also features in Ports Australia’s sustainability report, Ports and a Sustainable Australia.
