Jobs on pipeline deal for owners

TRADITIONAL land owners have welcomed an agreement guaranteeing them employment and training opportunities on the Haughton Pipeline duplication project.

A Cultural Heritage Management Agreement negotiated between the Bindal People and Townsville City Council will give traditional land owners opportunities on the $ 215 million project.

Companies that win work on the pipeline will be required to provide an indigenous employment strategy to engage traditional owners.

The agreement also ensures the protection and management of any cultural or historical sites important to the Bindal People.

Bindal Elder Eddie Smallwood said the employment requirement for companies that tender for work on the project would help train the next generation of workers.

“This isn’t just about the pipeline, this will skill up indigenous people for the future so they can get jobs on the next infrastructure project in the region,” he said.

“It will help upgrade the skills of the traditional owners of the land and create more opportunities for indigenous people.”

Mr Smallwood was “very happy” with the agreement.

Townsville Water and Waste Committee Chair Cr Paul Jacob said council was committed to creating as many local jobs as possible.

“It’s a great opportunity to improve employment and training options for indigenous people and improve economic development outcomes across the Townsville region.

“The pipeline will be complete by the end of next year and will provide long- term water security for our city, which has suffered through a once- in- a- generation drought.”

Consultation to address cultural heritage management from the pipeline, which lies within the Registered Native Title Claim of the Bindal People, began earlier this year.

Bindal cultural officers and a project archaeologist will undertake a detailed field assessment of the project corridor in May.

They will walk the area from the Haughton Pump Station to the Ross River Dam to locate any cultural sites and inform strategies to protect areas with significant cultural findings.

There are a number of major water bodies significant as cultural sites and story places, such as Haughton River and Majors Creek that will be included in the assessment.