The Australian Government wants to hear from the Norfolk Island community on best options for the long-term management of Cascade and Kingston Ports.
With reliable and safe port operations essential to the economic wellbeing of the Norfolk Island community, a Ports Management Strategy is being developed by Grosvenor Performance Group.
Current issues and potential solutions will be explored with a wide range of local stakeholders, drawing on the expertise and knowledge of the Norfolk Island community.
Driven by community consultation and best practice, the strategy development project will consider sustainable sea-freight arrangements, landside infrastructure and operational requirements for the two ports.
Information on Norfolk Island's ports will be combined with investigations into the freight industry in the South Pacific to identify appropriate options for future port management and infrastructure for the Island's unique circumstances.
A community engagement plan has been developed, using the principles of the Community Engagement Framework which was co-designed by the Norfolk Island community and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development. A fact sheet on the project can be found on the Department's website at http://www.regional.gov.au/territories/norfolk_island/working-with-the-community/currentconsultations.aspx.
Grosvenor's first on-Island engagement will occur in the week of September 23. Invitations to workshops and interviews are being sent out to stakeholders and there will also be a pop-up engagement stall during this week. There will be a second set of sessions later in the year, at which the options for future management will be tested with the community.
Project documents will be available from the Department's website as the project progresses. In addition to the on-Island sessions, Grosvenor Performance Group has set up a dedicated email address, which can be used to communicate with the project team. The address is NIPortsProject@grosvenorpg.com.au.
Eric Hutchinson
August 2019