PORTS Australia’s Port Sustainability Strategy Development Guide has been shortlisted as a finalist with two other Australian ports in the 2021 International Association of Ports and Harbors Awards.  

The nominations now go to a public vote to determine the winners. Voting is open until 8am (AEST) on Tuesday 1 June.

Ports Australia’s guide was shortlisted in the top three best projects under the governance and ethics category. 

Ports Australia said it was humbled by the nomination after years of dedicated collaboration with its membership to better understand sustainability planning.  

The organisation said what’s even more exciting is Port of Brisbane and Gladstone Ports Corporation are in the running for prizes. Also Ports Australia member is competing with the organisation in the governance and ethics category for its global education program. 

Port of Brisbane is a finalist in the resilient physical infrastructure category for its new cruise terminal and Gladstone Port Corporation is nominated in the community outreach and port city dialogue social dimension for its expansion of community parklands.

Ports Australia has endeavoured with this Guide to provide Australian ports with a systematic and robust approach to sustainability as they prepare their strategies or evolve the work they’ve already done. Read more about the launch of our Sustainability Guide here. 

Ports see sustainability planning as essential to business success; it ensures we have an environment that is operational over the long-term and is supported by those we operate and interact with. 

Ports Australia’s CEO, Mike Gallacher said he was honoured by the nomination and thanked colleagues across the membership and industry. 

“This recognition is credit to Ports Australia’s membership, particularly the Sustainability Working Group in consultation with Sprott Planning & Environment who pioneered this guide document, all whose expertise our team simply couldn’t go without,” Mr Gallacher said. 

“The sustainability journey we at Ports Australia have been taken on with our members has brought us to a new level of passion for the indispensable nature of sustainable practice and planning.” 

Mr Gallacher said Ports Australia does not expect to be recognised like this. 

“[But] it’s humbling and reassuring to know our work is valued and that sustainability planning is being realised as essential to ports globally,” he said. 

“Ports Australia is incredibly proud of the relationship we share with the IAPH and WPSP teams who are always supportive of the journey our ports in this unique part of the world are taking,’ Mike ended.” 

View all projects and vote at the WPSP website: https://sustainableworldports.org/.