| | | | | COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER | AUGUST 2022 | | | | | | | 
| After a more than two-year hiatus, cruising is finally returning to North Queensland!
On 17 April, the Federal Government lifted its ban on large foreign cruise ships which had been in place since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. Townsville is set to take centre stage as COVID-Safe cruising returns, hosting the Australian Cruise Associate Conference in September 2022 after it was postponed from its original date in 2020.
The Port of Townsville will host the Conference's welcome function at Quayside Terminal, ahead of welcoming our first cruise guests back to the city on three cruises booked for December 2022. We have a total of 45 vessels booked to visit Townsville between now and 2025 and the Port is looking forward to working with our tourism partners and local businesses in aiding the recovery of this vital industry and showcasing our beautiful region to all who visit.
With channel widening underway, the Port is looking forward to being able to welcome larger and more modern cruise ships up to 300m in length to Townsville in 2024. Work on the project is progressing, with almost 700,000m3 of dredge material removed and brought to land for beneficial reuse in our new reclamation area since dredging began in March 2022.
We have recently announced the recipients of our second annual $50,000 Community Fund and were once again overwhelmed with the response. In total, 33 community groups applied for more than $200,000 funding to support their initiatives. Our judges had a difficult time narrowing down the contenders and we are proud to support 15 separate community initiatives that align with our Port values.
As the Port continues to expand and plan for the future, there are many opportunities to join our team. We have a diverse range of positions available, which can be accessed via our website.
Please enjoy reading about all these initiatives and more in this issue.
All the best,
Ranee Crosby
Chief Executive Officer | | | | | | | | | | Supporting our community
Reconciliation, conservation and community health and wellbeing are the presiding themes among the recipients of the Port of Townsville's second annual $50,000 Community Fund.
To date, the Port has provided financial backing for 15 community-based initiatives across Townsville, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook and the Burdekin through this year's fund.
Among the recipients are Townsville State High School, which will use its funding to further develop its First Nation's Arts Project with the purchase of digeridoos and clapsticks, and the Magnetic Island Network for Turtles (MINT) who will use the funding to improve facilities to aid with the rehabilitation and release of turtles. | | | 
| | | | | | | Indigenous art project
The Port of Townsville has recently invited local indigenous artists to submit examples of their work to be considered for future commissions for Port projects.
Featuring local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork at the Port and in our publications is an opportunity for artists to showcase their work, while helping to strengthen the cultural connection between the Port and our community.
Nine artists applied through our expressions of interest campaign which was run across local media, and we look forward to commissioning pieces in the near future. | | | | | | | | Online shop
Mission to Seafarers Townsville has launched a new initiative that will allow crews to easily access creature comforts when their vessels are docked at the Port of Townsville.
The Mission has launched an online shop, enabling visiting seafarers to order groceries, toiletries and souvenirs for delivery straight to their ship.
We are proud to have supported this initiative via our inaugural Community Fund. | | | | | | | | | Behind our gates
Get a sneak peek behind our gates with a guided tour of the Port of Townsville.
Tours generally take 30-45 minutes and can be tailored to suit your group's interests.
We've recently hosted groups from St Patrick's College, Ingham State High School and OzCare to name just a few.
To find out more about booking a tour for your school or community group, click here. | | | | | | | | | | | | | Quest to plant One Million Trees
To celebrate National Tree Day for schools, our staff hosted students from Halifax State School, Macknade State School and Trebonne State School to plant 130 trees along the foreshore at Lucinda Port.
Some of the kids had never planted a tree before and were keen to get their hands dirty, with the assistance of Hinchinbrook Shire Council, who dug holes and supplied plants.
Our Port Advisory Body, Community Liaison Group and volunteers from Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare have also planted trees in the region recently, which all add to our One Million Tree tally, which we're striving to reach by 2050. | | | | | | | We are Champions!
The efforts of Port staff in reducing energy, water and waste has seen us recognised by the CCIQ EcoBiz Queensland Program.
For our performance in 2021, the Port received a three star "champion" rating, which is the highest rating possible. Since joining the program in 2016, we have reduced our energy use by 9 per cent and slashed a whopping 70 per cent from our water usage and landfill.
We are proud of these accomplishments and are working across all levels of the Townsville and Lucinda Ports to sustain our reductions and make improvements as we reach for our Port Vision 2050 commitments. | | | | | | | | Healthy waterways
The Port is the new host of the Dry Tropics Partnership for Healthy Waters, with the Partnership's three staff members now based at the Port. In July, the partnership released its 2021 Report Card which outlines the conditions of Townsville's waterways. We've been contributing data to the report card since its inception and take great pride in collaborating with Partners to improve our shared understanding of the whole catchment area. | | | 
| | | | | | | | EcoFiesta
The Port team attended Townsville City Council's Ecofiesta on World Environment Day at Anderson Gardens with about 10,000 people attending. The Port shared information about biosecurity and facilitated a visit by Bega and the Purple Hive Project from Victoria. The innovative Purple Hive uses artificial intelligence to detect varroa mites on bees, and the Port is working closely with Bega to have one installed at Townsville Port. This will add to and complement existing biosecurity approaches in the Port, as a First Point of Entry Port. | | | | | | | | | | | | Riding the High Seas
Did you know our highly skilled Marine Pilots also service Abbot Point? It could be argued Capitan Kate has one of the best offices in the North, snapping this fabulous shot as she guided a vessel safely in to the Port.
"I love living in this region," Captain Kate said. "I feel very fortunate to be a Marine Pilot representing the Port of Townsville." | | | | | | | | | NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week is all about celebrating and embracing the rich culture, history and contributions of our First Nations people. To mark the occasion, Port staff gathered to hear engineer Rob share details of being born on Thursday Island and his family's history in North Queensland. Rob has been part of the Port team for more than 15 years and said support and career opportunities like those he receives are a vital first step toward Reconciliation. | | | | | | | | | Reconciliation Week
We were thrilled to host Alex Gertz and Matty Bowen from On Common Country at our staff tree-planting to mark Reconciliation Week.
The Port and our colleagues from Hall Contracting, who are facilitating our Channel Upgrade project, are working closely with On Common Country to provide training and employment opportunities for Indigenous youth in the region. | | | | | | | | | | | | Channel Upgrade progress
Our work to welcome larger commercial, cruise and defence ships to Townsville is progressing well, with channel widening now in full swing.
Dredging works began in March and the backhoe dredge Woomera has removed almost 700,000m3 to date. All dredge material removed as part of the Channel Upgrade project is being brought back to land for placement in the 62ha reclamation area. In total, about 3.4 million cubic metres of material will be removed from the 14.9km shipping channel, with dredging expected to take about two years.
The project is supported by $17 million in environmental monitoring and management, including surveys of seagrass and inshore dolphins. Follow our Facebook page to learn more about the results as they're made available. | | | | | | | | | Disused jetty removed from River
The Port engaged Pacific Marine Group to demolish the old and unused Harbourside Cold Store Jetty on Ross River. The works comprised complete demolition of the wharf structure including the supporting and fender files and wharf accessories, as well as installation of a reinforced concrete edge protection kerb and reinstatement of the existing fence. Concrete from the jetty deck demolition will be crushed and recycled. | | | | | | | | | Military might
As a proud garrison city, we're always pleased to support our Defence Force who undertake vital training across the region. Recently we've played host to both the HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide, alongside the US Navy vessel USS Ashland.
They always cut an impressive figure berthed at our Port, as this early morning shot taken by Maritime Security Guard Cheryl shows. | | | | | | | | | | | We're Hiring
We're on the look out for passionate, dedicated people to join our team.
To see our latest vacancies and to apply, visit our website. | | | | | | | | | |