Published Friday, 25 May, 2007 at 12:31 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Indigenous land use agreement positions community to benefit from Aurukun bauxite project
25 May 2007
Joint Statement
AURUKUN: Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh, today announced an Indigenous Land Use Agreement had been entered into with the Wik and Wik Way peoples, CHALCO (Aluminum Corporation of China) and the Aurukun Shire Council for the Aurukun bauxite project.
Ms Bligh said that this was an important milestone for the project and a comprehensive feasibility study would now commence.
“Comprehensive planning will ensure the project meets world’s best practice in managing social economic and environmental impacts and preserving the culture heritage of the Wik and Wik Way peoples.
“Most importantly the Indigenous Land Use Agreement includes a plan for the sustainable development of the Aurukun region, with CHALCO committing more than $2 million a year to work with the community to ensure their ongoing involvement in the project.
“This project has enormous job-creation potential in the region, with a mine having a construction workforce of 700 people, and an additional 100 full-time jobs once operational,” Ms Bligh said.
The Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Warren Pitt, said the Wik and Wik Way peoples were to be congratulated for entering into the agreement, which would help secure a prosperous future for their community.
“In addition to CHALCO’s commitment to a sustainability plan for Aurukun, the Queensland Government will provide approximately $3 million over two years to improve the coordination and delivery of government services and programs, and to assist the community to share in the benefits from this project.
“The agreement signed in Aurukun today places the community in the best possible position to take advantage of employment and business opportunities that will flow from the feasibility study and subsequent mine development.
“The Queensland Government, the Wik and Wik Way peoples and CHALCO are embarking on an arrangement that will see the people of Aurukun build on the good work already happening in that community to improve the coordination of services such as sport and recreation and job training in the community.
“This in turn will help reverse the trends of significant economic and social disadvantage, including high unemployment rates, significant health concerns, and a high incidence of alcohol-related violence,” Mr Pitt said.
Media contacts:
Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
Minister Pitt’s Office 3235 4280
Joint Statement
AURUKUN: Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh, today announced an Indigenous Land Use Agreement had been entered into with the Wik and Wik Way peoples, CHALCO (Aluminum Corporation of China) and the Aurukun Shire Council for the Aurukun bauxite project.
Ms Bligh said that this was an important milestone for the project and a comprehensive feasibility study would now commence.
“Comprehensive planning will ensure the project meets world’s best practice in managing social economic and environmental impacts and preserving the culture heritage of the Wik and Wik Way peoples.
“Most importantly the Indigenous Land Use Agreement includes a plan for the sustainable development of the Aurukun region, with CHALCO committing more than $2 million a year to work with the community to ensure their ongoing involvement in the project.
“This project has enormous job-creation potential in the region, with a mine having a construction workforce of 700 people, and an additional 100 full-time jobs once operational,” Ms Bligh said.
The Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Warren Pitt, said the Wik and Wik Way peoples were to be congratulated for entering into the agreement, which would help secure a prosperous future for their community.
“In addition to CHALCO’s commitment to a sustainability plan for Aurukun, the Queensland Government will provide approximately $3 million over two years to improve the coordination and delivery of government services and programs, and to assist the community to share in the benefits from this project.
“The agreement signed in Aurukun today places the community in the best possible position to take advantage of employment and business opportunities that will flow from the feasibility study and subsequent mine development.
“The Queensland Government, the Wik and Wik Way peoples and CHALCO are embarking on an arrangement that will see the people of Aurukun build on the good work already happening in that community to improve the coordination of services such as sport and recreation and job training in the community.
“This in turn will help reverse the trends of significant economic and social disadvantage, including high unemployment rates, significant health concerns, and a high incidence of alcohol-related violence,” Mr Pitt said.
Media contacts:
Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
Minister Pitt’s Office 3235 4280