Shipton’s Flat indigenous partnership triumphs at Queensland Reconciliation awards

31 May 2012 – The Aurecon sponsored indigenous project, Bana Yarralji Ranger Base, has won the Partnership category at the Queensland Reconciliation Awards, held on 29 May in Brisbane.

The ranger facility was officially opened on September 9 2011. Aurecon partnered with Centre for Appropriate Technology (CAT) and Engineers without Borders Australia (EWB) to assist the Kuku Nyungkal people of the region to realise their vision of transforming the land into a community healing and an eco-tourist site featuring local indigenous rangers and a conservation programme.

Aurecon volunteered all architectural project management, construction management, statutory and environmental planning and engineering services for the project.

Located in a remote indigenous community in Shipton’s Flat, Daintree, Queensland, the ranger base includes power and water supply, an environmentally appropriate wastewater treatment system, office facilities, communications systems, and an ablutions block containing composting toilets, showers, storage and laundry on a site that previously had basic shelter and limited facilities.

The project also included structural strengthening of an existing shelter on the site to meet current standards.

Caitlin Pilkington, who was named Young Professional Engineer of the Year by the Engineer Australia Cairns chapter for her involvement on this project, was at the awards evening to receive the prize on behalf of Marilyn Wallace, Bana Yarralji Bubu Chief Executive Officer.

She said: “It was such an honour for us to receive the award on behalf of everyone involved in the project. There were many worthy award nominees and lots of people came up to congratulate us - or even to tell us that they’d used the ablutions block!”

Trevor Sharrock, Project Co-ordinator, said: “Congratulations and many thanks to everyone who was involved in the project. In particular, special thanks to the volunteer members from our Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns offices who worked tirelessly to help the Kuku Nyungkal people realise their dream."

"We are looking forward to continuing the partnership with Stage 2 of the ranger base due to kick off shortly which will provide opportunities for more Aurecon staff to make a difference,” he adds.