Artwork celebrates new-look fun-run
August 9, 2021
The Port City’s most iconic residents are taking centre stage across Gladstone Ports Corporation’s (GPC) three unique parklands, with all seven sculptures now on show to the public.
The installation has been completed just in time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Spinnaker Park and the first birthday of East Shores 1b at the Port to Park fun run this Sunday 15 August.
The new statues include a dugong, shorebird, crab, barramundi and a turtle and can be found throughout East Shores, the Marina Parklands and Spinnaker Park.
In December, a dolphin statue was installed at East Shores 1A while a whale was revealed near the Marina Parklands Bridge.
The installation of the five statues this month now completes GPC’s unique collection of hand crafted tallowwood designs carved by Queensland artist, Shane Christensen.
The artwork is part of Gladstone’s Big6, a GPC education and awareness program, which recognises and celebrates iconic species of the bioregion and their habitats.
Chief Operating Officer Craig Walker hopes the new wooden sculptures will spark conversations about the Port City’s wildlife and generate interest in our ecosystem.
“We’re so privileged that the Port area is home to such a diverse range of wildlife,” Mr Walker said.
“These beautiful carvings are a wonderful way to showcase our diverse wildlife and our commitment to them around the Port and I’m sure locals will love seeing them on the Port to Park race course,” he said.
“The statues are more than artwork, it’s also a way to recognise our iconic wildlife and remind locals of the residents living in the harbour like dugongs, dolphins and occasionally even whales,”
“At GPC we recognise that our port facilities and services are located in estuarine environments and we pride ourselves on operating in a sustainable manner,”
“It’s important that we work together as a community to protect our environment.”
Mr Walker said GPC aims to encourage the community to embrace healthy lifestyles.
“These new carvings are a great excuse for locals to get outdoors, use the waterfront walkways and discover our fellow inhabitants of the area both the form of a carving and in their natural habitats”.