Cultural heritage surveys conducted at the site of Queensland’s proposed global-scale renewable hydrogen project have provided a unique opportunity for Traditional Owners to reconnect with their ancestral lands.

Conducted at the site of the proposed Central Queensland Hydrogen (CQ-H2) Project in the Gladstone region, these cultural heritage surveys and monitoring activities are a testament to the project’s commitment to honouring and protecting the cultural heritage of local First Nations communities. 

Teams from the Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, and Taribelang Bunda Peoples have been actively involved, bringing their invaluable knowledge and expertise to the forefront. The surveys have allowed them to participate in the meaningful work of identifying, preserving, and repatriating their rich cultural heritage.

Over the course of 36 days, the surveys uncovered a variety of objects and sites of cultural significance. Among these were a culturally modified tree, stone tools, other stone artefacts, charcoal, and a firestick, which may have been used in traditional fire management practices. Each discovery offers a glimpse into the rich cultural history of the First Nations peoples.

To ensure their preservation, the identified objects of cultural significance have been carefully relocated and are now in the possession of the Traditional Owners. The culturally modified tree is located outside the CQ-H2 Project’s disturbance footprint. This means that plans for the project can proceed without impacting this significant cultural find. 

About the Central Queensland Hydrogen Project 

Stanwell, a Queensland Government-owned corporation and a major provider of electricity and energy solutions in Queensland, is driving the development of renewable energy in Central Queensland.  Stanwell is working with domestic and international partners from across the hydrogen supply chain – including Japan’s Iwatani Corporation, Kansai Electric Power Company and Marubeni Corporation, and Singapore’s Keppel Infrastructure – to develop the Central Queensland Hydrogen (CQ-H2) Project. The CQ-H2 Project includes the development of a large-scale renewable hydrogen production facility at Aldoga, as well as a hydrogen transport facility (pipeline), and a liquefaction and shipping facility at the Port of Gladstone. The project will also supply renewable hydrogen to an ammonia production facility. 

Commercial operations are planned to commence in 2029. Once operational, the project aims to deliver renewable hydrogen to Japan and Singapore, as well as supplying industrial customers in Central Queensland. A feasibility study for the project was successfully completed in 2022, and a Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study is now underway to enable a Final Investment Decision (FID).  The FEED study is the largest investment in an Australian renewable hydrogen project of its kind to date, with a commitment of $117 million from government and consortium partners, including $15 million from the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund, and $20 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

The cultural heritage surveys were completed as part of the FEED study. 

Protecting Queensland’s cultural heritage

In Queensland, Aboriginal cultural heritage is safeguarded by the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (ACHA). The Act ensures that cultural heritage is identified, protected, and managed with utmost respect. It outlines mechanisms for identifying Aboriginal Parties, establishing duty of care requirements, and forming agreements between project proponents and Traditional Owners. For the Central Queensland Hydrogen (CQ-H2) Project, the Aboriginal Party is the First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, and Taribelang Bunda (BGGGTB) Peoples, represented by the Port Curtis Coral Coast Trust (PCCC Trust). 

To honour these connections, the CQ-H2 Project has chosen to pursue a Cultural Heritage Agreement. This agreement sets out a collaborative process for working collaboratively to identify and preserve cultural heritage.

As the lead partner on the ground for the project, Stanwell has been in ongoing conversations with First Nations groups since 2022. These discussions began during the initial CQ-H2 Project Feasibility Study, and have continued through the FEED study in 2023 and 2024.  These discussions were recently formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the PCCC Trust. This MOU establishes a framework for engagement, to ensure the BGGGTB Peoples benefit from the construction and operation of the CQ-H2 Project while protecting their cultural heritage.  The MOU sets out key principles for engagement, fostering a relationship built on trust, transparency, and a common vision. It also lays the groundwork for negotiating a Cultural Heritage Agreement (CHA), which will define processes for identifying, protecting, and managing Aboriginal cultural heritage in accordance with the ACHA.

Cultural heritage surveys are a vital part of a CHA. These surveys, conducted ahead of any ground disturbance activities, assess the likelihood of uncovering cultural heritage places and items. If artefacts are found, the Traditional Owners decide how they will be managed. 

A future built on respect 

Stanwell’s proactive engagement with Traditional Owners has enabled cultural heritage surveys to be integrated into the project design at the FEED stage.

In agreement with the PCCC Trust, and pending finalisation of the Cultural Heritage Agreement, the CQ-H2 Project conducted cultural heritage surveys under Economic Development Queensland’s Cultural Heritage Management Plan.  Over 36 days, a team of Traditional Owners from the PCCC Trust undertook these surveys and cultural heritage monitoring activities. During the surveys, conducted from late September to early October 2023 on the Aldoga site, and during the initial geotechnical investigations in March and April 2024, several objects and sites of cultural significance were identified. 

These included a culturally modified tree, stone tools, charcoal, and a firestick. Each find was meticulously recorded, georeferenced, and, where necessary, relocated to ensure their preservation. The stone artefacts, now safeguarded by the Port Curtis Coral Coast Trust’s Cultural Heritage Unit, will be protected from potential damage during the early works program. Further cultural heritage monitoring will be essential during the construction of the CQ-H2 Project. The CQ-H2 team will collaborate closely with the PCCC Trust to schedule and carry out these surveys before any construction or early works programs. This will ensure any significant cultural heritage finds are managed appropriately in consultation with the Traditional Owners.

By taking this approach, the CQ-H2 Project is setting a standard for how large-scale developments can coexist with and honour the cultural heritage of Traditional Owners – building a renewable future that respects the past, and takes a shared path to prosperity.

Supporting long-term benefits for the Central Queensland Region

The CQ-H2 Project is committed to working with the Gladstone community to ensure the project creates long-term benefits for the region, and will continue stakeholder and community engagement activities in Gladstone during the FEED stage.