The Great Northern Highway Kimberley Project

Partnership with Gija People saves giant boab tree

Team Savannah, a consortium of BGC Contracting, Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction and Maunsell Australia, working with Main Roads WA has assisted the Gija people, traditional owners of the land around Warmun in the East Kimberley to give a huge 750 year old boab tree to the people of Western Australia. The tree is 12m high and weighs about 36 tonne. It will be presented to a traditional owner group of Nyoongar people and be planted in a prominent position in Kings Park and Botanic Garden.

The tree was in the path of a new bridge being constructed as part of the current upgrade of the Great Northern Highway near Warmun. The contractors wanted to save the tree and consulted Kings Park & Botanic Garden to find a way to move it.

“The boab is one of the iconic trees in WA and Kings Park & Botanic Garden expressed an interest in having the tree relocated there” said Jamie Shaw, Environmental Manager from Team Savannah. “The Gija people welcomed the request and the chance to share their stories and cultural links to the boab.”

BGC, Laing O’Rourke, Maunsell and Main Roads WA are providing the funding for the 3,200 km relocation. Other companies are also donating their time and expertise to ensure the project’s success.

The tree will begin its epic journey, believed to be the longest overland relocation in the world, on Monday 14 July and arrive in Perth on Saturday 19 July. A welcome ceremony will take place in Kings Park on Sunday.

“This is a huge tree that would have been lost in normal construction planning” said Jim Tuckwell of Team Savannah “We have preserved a tree that is important to the Gija people and found a way for them to share it with the 5 million visitors to Kings Park each year.”

“This is a great outcome” said Menno Henneveld, Commissioner, Main Roads WA. “It is the result of positive relationships, innovative thinking and people coming together to make something unique happen.”
 

In this issue

• Partnership with Gija People saves giant boab tree

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