Gladstone the place to be

2 July 2008

WITH a steady roll-out of infrastructure construction over the next two decades on projects that will be recognised on the world stage, there will be no shortage of work in the Gladstone and Surat Basin regions.

Many workers are already recognising the job opportunities in the Gladstone region, with the population growing by more than 2% a year.

The $2.1 billion expansion of Gladstone’s Yarwun alumina refinery, which is underway, will transform the Rio Tinto plant into the world’s largest.

Personnel for the construction of Yarwun 2 will come in stages but should reach 2200 at its peak.

The Gladstone Ports Corporation was given the final tick of approval in April to proceed with the development of one of Australia’s largest coal port terminals.

The Wiggins Island coal terminal, which will generate 500 jobs during construction, will begin operating by 2013.

But the economic growth of the region is diversifying with three proposals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in Gladstone drawing from the resource-rich Bowen and Surat Basins.

Premier Anna Bligh told State Parliament last month that by 2030 the Surat Basin could create 16,000 jobs.

Santos is embarking on a $5-7 billion LNG plant which is predicted to generate a peak workforce of 3000 jobs during construction.

The Queensland Gas Company and the BG Group announced in February they were also joining forces to build a world-scale LNG plant and 380km pipeline in the Gladstone area which would generate thousands of jobs.

Gladstone Regional Council Mayor George Creed said the Gladstone community supported “responsible and sustainable development” and these projects “fall within this category”.

“For many years Gladstone has been dependent on the aluminium industry. Whilst this will continue, we are now seeing signs of diversification (like) the gas industry. This is good for our community. I see at least two decades of growth ahead of us,” he said.

Mr Creed said Gladstone had become a multicultural society and an attractive place to live.

“The Gladstone Region not only offers excellent career opportunities but a lifestyle second to none.”

Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy director Roger Atkins, who was integral in initiating the Gladstone Schools Engineering Skills Centre, believes Gladstone’s younger generations are being adequately equipped to move into the industry as each new one comes on board.

“One company on its own can’t solve the skills shortage nor can one school but with cross-sector partnerships you can build the pool and raise the depth of the pool so everybody benefits.”

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