Gilmour Space Technologies gathered with the traditional owners last Saturday to celebrate an exciting milestone in the construction of the Gold Coast Based company’s Bowen Orbital Space Port at Abbot Point State Development Area.
Welcoming The Juru Traditional Owners of Bowen nearby the proposed site, Gilmour celebrated that they were one step closer to launching rockets into space, with the Whitsunday Regional Council approving early works for the Orbital Spaceport.
Spaceport Welcomed To Country
In a smoking ceremony, an aboriginal protocol much like a welcome to country, elders and representatives of the Juru people officially welcomed Gilmour Space to country.
“We are grateful to the Juru traditional owners for their Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony to mark this occasion, ushering in a new space beginning for Queensland and Australia,” James Gilmour, head of launch operations at Gilmour Space said.
Trevor Prior, Juru Elder and board director of the Kyburra Munda Yalga Aboriginal Corporation, which last year signed a Cultural Heritage Management Agreement with Gilmour Space, officiated the ceremony.
“With this ceremony, our people have welcomed Gilmour Space to build their spaceport on Juru country,” Mr Prior said.
The approval from Whitsunday Regional Council means that Gilmour can begin early construction works on the launch site ahead of their first Eris rocket launch later this year.
The event was attended by business leaders as well as representatives from federal, state and local governments, including Member for Dawson George Christensen MP.
“This is important for the nation - having sovereign launch capability is a strategic need, and we want to see that develop through projects like this,” Mr Christensen said.
Bowen Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Hedditch said that the project was not only fantastic for Bowen but for the region.
“The beauty of this area is that it’s isolated, it won’t cause a problem for any residents, but it will provide jobs and tourism for the region,” Mr Hedditch said.
In the United States, rocket launches at Cape Canaveral regularly see attendances of over 150,000 spectators.
“If we can even get 10 per cent of that, the hotels in Bowen will be full, and even in Airlie Beach,” Mr Hedditch said.
The company is seeking further approvals to complete the project.
Ms Peta Ross Lynn, chairperson of the Kyburra Munda Yalga Aboriginal Corporation, Juru Elder Trevor Prior, Adam Gilmour, Juru Elder Boori Monty Prior, James Gilmour, and Member for Dawson George Christensen
The Juru People alongside Gilmour Space employees at the future site of the Bowen Orbital Space Port
Juru Traditional Owners performed a smoking ceremony
Adam Gilmour alongside the smoking ceremony
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
