Port still moving in right direction | Gladstone News | Local News in Gladstone

GPC plumber Wayne Long looks over stockpiles and dust suppression sprinklers at the coal terminal.

The Gladstone Observer

GLADSTONE Ports Corporation (GPC) held a community forum on Wednesday night to update residents about their progress and future direction.

CEO Leo Zussino said GPC provides a five-year forecast on a yearly basis.

Mr Zussino said of particular note at the moment was that coal was being exported to non-traditional markets like India and China.

“At the moment our traditional markets like Japan, Korea and Taiwan are probably suffering a little from the economic downturn,” Mr Zussino said.

However, GPC's current focus was making sure shipping and dredging protocols for the proposed LNG facility and Wiggins Island coal terminal were developed and adhered to, he said.

The port CEO also said a benchmarking exercise, initiated in 2007, was currently on track.

“We have implemented a target that by the end of 2010 our coal exports will be benchmarked against the world's best practice for preventing coal dust spreading into the community,” he said.

According to Mr Zussino, social infrastructure was also critical, including dredging the marina back to previous levels and investigating the potential for a marina in the Boyne River.

“Creating a major sustainable industrial city requires high quality environmental and social infrastructure programs,” he said.

“Industry must go hand in hand with environment.”