Local sponsorship a first for Gladstone Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers

Published Wednesday, 28 September, 2016 at 09:00 AM

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef
The Honourable Steven Miles

Three Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers will be on patrol in Gladstone thanks to a sponsorship agreement with ConocoPhillips on behalf of Australia Pacific LNG.

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles was in Gladstone today to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Queensland Government, the Gidarjil Development Corporation and ConocoPhillips.

“This is an exciting development for the Queensland Government’s highly successful Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program which is delivering real environmental and employment outcomes in regional communities across Queensland,” Dr Miles said.

Under the agreement, the Queensland Government will match the funding from ConocoPhillips on behalf of Australia Pacific LNG to enable the Gidarjil Development Corporation to establish a new Land and Sea Ranger team in Gladstone.

Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said this was the first time the Queensland Government had partnered with the private sector to deliver the Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers Program.

“I’m delighted that the community focus of the program will be maintained through the involvement of such a prominent local employer,” Mr Butcher said.

“The new team’s work will be tailored to local needs and include strategic weed control, seagrass monitoring, mangrove watch, monitoring marine turtles, cultural heritage surveys and junior ranger activities,” he said.

ConocoPhillips Australia East President Warwick King said the partnership supported ConocoPhillips’ ongoing commitment to indigenous engagement and participation in the Port Curtis Coral Coast region.

“We believe it is important to respect indigenous culture and heritage, and this new Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers partnership is an opportunity to work closely with the local indigenous community and government, and support conservation of land and sea.”

Gidarjil Development Corporation Managing Director Kerry Blackman said the sponsorship arrangement was an important boost to employment opportunities for Indigenous people in Gladstone.

“This new ranger team provides great opportunities for our young people, giving them local employment and training in Caring for Country and is a significant investment in their future,” Mr Blackman said.

The Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program cares for land and sea country and increases Indigenous participation in environmental management.

Land and sea rangers are employed through local Indigenous host organisations with funding by the Queensland Government. The ranger program is managed by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection.

The new agreement means the Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program is now delivering jobs in 16 regional communities.

Further sponsorship opportunities are available with details online at:

https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/community/partnership-prospectus/

ENDS

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