Mara Pattison-Sowden | 2nd Sep 2014
$42m Gladstone waterfront project half-finished
Mine expansion a boost for Gladstone and WICET
Monster lift puts 125 metre-long bridge in place at WICET
WICET interest demonstrates terminal is valuable asset
Key loading infrastructure installed at Wiggins Island
Push to get Qld's $30b construction industry moving
Extra 250 ships on harbour when WICET ramps up
WICET investor bows out
Coal exports deliver financial bonanza for port
IT won't be long before the new coal terminal begins demobilising its construction crew. WICET still has about 900 workers on site at any one time, compared to a peak of 1100.
The coal terminal is 90% complete, with the project scheduled to load its first ship later this year.
Although Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal crew is privately owned, Gladstone Ports Corporation will operate the terminal.
GPC CEO Craig Doyle said 10 staff had been inducted on to the new site.
"This operating agreement is the first of its kind," Mr Doyle said.
Meanwhile, the crew is still fundraising for the Gladstone branch of the Pyjama Foundation.
The crew wasn't able to swap its high-vis uniforms for pyjamas, but WICET staff helped celebrate National Pyjama Day with a fundraising morning tea and barbecue, which together with a donation from the WICET social club, resulted in a $500 donation by the project.
The donation represents ongoing support from WICET for the foundation, with the project having previously sponsored the annual Gladstone Long Walk event.
WICET CEO Robert Barnes said while staff supported a number of charity initiatives, the Pyjama Foundation was special.
"Our staff have a great affection for the Pyjama Foundation, particularly as we have a number of Pyjama Angel volunteers on staff," he said.
The Pyjama Foundation helps ease some of the pressures on foster carers and empowers children through its Love of Learning Program, where Pyjama Angels volunteers are matched with a child in care and spend an hour a week focusing on learning based activities.
TOPICS: COAL, GLADSTONE PORT,