Acknowledgement of Country
Bowen Rail Company recognises that its operations occur on the lands of the Clermont and Belyando (formerly Wangan and Jagalingou) People, the Jangga People, the Birriah People and the Juru People. We pay respect to the Traditional Owners, past, present and emerging.
Providing employment and training
Bowen Rail Company is committed to providing sustainable opportunities for the First Nations people from the land on which our operations are based.
Through workplace strategies, such as the Indigenous Employment and Training Strategy, we work to increase the participation of local indigenous communities.
Our work with First Nations people is guided by the Indigenous Land Use Agreements we hold with these Traditional Owner groups. These formal agreements set a framework for land access, employment and economic opportunities, compensation, and cultural heritage.
Taylor Paul is proof of the power of perseverance.
After years of trying to get a foot in the door of Queensland’s rail industry, the 31-year-old Bowen local and proud Juru man, is swapping his plasterer’s float for the keys to a Bowen Rail Company GT46C-ACe Gen III locomotive.
“This is a dream come true,” Taylor said. “I’d applied for other positions with other companies over the years and, in all honesty, those experiences had me expecting not to make it this far.
“But these sorts of opportunities don’t present themselves too often in a small town such as Bowen, so I thought I’d put my application in and give it a crack, and I’m so happy this has come through for me.”
Protecting cultural heritage
Bowen Rail Company upholds its duty of care to protect and manage cultural heritage, particularly of our First Nations peoples.
Cultural Heritage Management Plans were put in place with Traditional Owners during the development of the Carmichael Rail Network project. These plans are managed in accordance with the ILUAs and outline objectives and practical measures to protect and enhance cultural heritage environmental values.
We uphold the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act and take all reasonable and practicable measures to maintain our cultural heritage duty of care.
How we assessed the project’s impact on cultural heritage
There was a comprehensive overview of the Carmichael Rail Network area’s cultural heritage during its development. Cultural heritage assessments included reviews, surveys and technical advisories to determine the extent of cultural heritage values and create appropriate methods to minimise direct and indirect impact.
Traditional mozzie dance
Seven surveys were conducted from the start of the project, each taking one week to complete. The wide-ranging assessments involved walking along a grid to check for any artefacts. Experts included Traditional Owner Field Officers, an archaeologist and a field assistant.
The findings from these assessments were used at various stages during the project development to inform the design and construction of the project, in consultation with Traditional Owners. For example, the Carmichael Rail Network rail corridor was located to avoid important cultural sites.
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