New Land and Sea Rangers for Gladstone and Bundaberg

The Palaszczuk Government has announced two new ranger positions for the Gladstone and Bundaberg region as part of the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program.

Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch announced Gidarjil Development Corporation was one of seven organisations in Queensland that would benefit from the Palaszczuk Government’s $8.1 million funding boost for more than 20 Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers.

“Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers contribute greatly to the protection of Queensland’s environment and Indigenous cultural heritage,” Ms Enoch said.

Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said the two rangers would work in the Port Curtis Coral Coast region, including Gladstone and Bundaberg, inland to the western areas around Childers and Monto.

“These rangers will engage and support traditional owners and elders to record traditional knowledge out on country, as well as maintain and protect cultural heritage sites and assist cultural heritage surveys,” he said.

The rangers will also work with Mon Repo to undertake monitoring of marine turtle nesting and hatching activity along the coast and offshore islands, as well as reef management and protection activities.

Ms Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government announced funding for extra Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger positions in the 2017-18 State Budget and organisations were invited to apply for funding to secure these positions. Successful applicants were selected by an assessment panel.

“This program allows the Government to partner with Indigenous communities to care for country and provides job and training opportunities,” Ms Enoch said.

“Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers are often traditional owners who are able to draw on their valuable traditional knowledge in their conservation work.

“It is an amazing program and I am pleased our Government is able to fund 22 extra positions to extend the work in conserving environmental and cultural heritage in Queensland.

More information is available: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/community/about-rangers

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