Sustainability

Environment, Social and Governance

As one of Australia’s premier multi-commodity ports, we proactively lead a balanced approach to the daily activities and future planning, development and growth of the organisation, and port and terminal operations. We do this through a commitment to efficiency, adaptation and resilience, ensuring the decisions we make enable us to support prosperity for Queensland now and into the future.

Our approach will continue to be refined and updated in the coming years as we progress along our pathway to a sustainable future. Developed in consultation with our people and external stakeholders, it is about telling ‘Our Story’ and advancing short and longer-term initiatives, programs and daily activities.  

Guided by our ESG Policy to deliver a future-focussed sustainable organisation, there are four key elements which are enabled through the ability to innovate, adapt, and partner: 

• Our Environment: Lead through robust identification of issues, active environmental management, impact avoidance, strong protection of environmental values and response to climate change. 
• Our People and Communities: Safety and wellbeing of our people with a culturally-appropriate work environment supporting ongoing learning and development. Support, engage and enhance partnerships with our community including First Nations peoples. 
• Our Ports: Growth and prosperity of current and new trade, drive efficiencies, maintain strong corporate governance structures, protect critical supply chains and partner with industry to increase economic value for Queensland. 
• Our Governance: Promote stewardship, ethical and lawful behaviours, appropriate risk management, cultural integrity, leadership, fair remuneration, accurate and timely reporting and responsible decision making through an effective and diverse oversighting Board, striving for high performance and compliance with relevant regulations.

As part of our ESG and sustainability journey, we are embedding initiatives throughout the business to meet the Reef 2050 Plan and World Port Sustainability Program requirements.  

Sustainability Report

GPC’s sustainability report, contained within the Annual Reports focuses on our ongoing efforts to manage climate change risks and supporting transition to a low-carbon economy in line with Queensland Government targets.

Memorandum of Understanding with CQUniversity

CQUniversity and GPC have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on mutually-beneficial projects that highlight GPC and CQUniversity as leaders in port research and operations. 

The first memorandum was signed in June 2020 signifying the start of a strong partnership. In March 2023, a second MoU with CQUniversity was signed, continuing to collaborate on new projects and combining resources to design initiatives that will benefit community and industry within Central Queensland and Wide Bay regions. 

The priority MoU areas are:

• Environmental and Social Governance (ESG)
• Research through the CQU’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) 
• Engagement with First Nations peoples
• Workforce education and training
• Innovation and technology
• Future trade
• Decarbonisation.

As part of the agreement, GPC and CQUniversity formed a Research Advisory Committee to review and endorse proposed projects they deem suitable for progressing.

Currently, GPC and CQUniversity have three (3) key projects focusing on habitat creation, biodiversity and climate resilience: 

• The Capricorn Yellow Chat Project focusses on Habitat tracking and genetic research into the critically-endangered Yellow Chat bird. For details refer to the Capricorn Yellow Chat fact sheet and and Fake nests reveal hidden threats to critically endangered bird news story.
• The Coral Restoration Project research investigates the genetics and methods for spawning, growing and deploying heat tolerant corals to suitable ocean locations. The interaction between macroalgae and coral is also part of the investigations. This research involves a partnership with Monsoon Aquatics, University of Technology Sydney, and CQUniversity. For details, refer to the Coral Restoration Project fact sheet. 
• The Seawall Habitat Enhancement Project investigates methods for improving mangrove and oyster habitat along a constructed seawall in the Port of Gladstone.