Today, the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) was delighted to officially open its new Environmental Management Programme building “Powuppoon Haus”, located on the corner of Douglas Street and Hastings Street on Thursday Island. TSRA welcomed Board Members and staff to the opening with Father Charlie Loban providing a blessing of the building and Mr Milton Savage conducting a Welcome to Country.

The new building supports TSRA’s Land and Sea management Unit which comprises the Sea Team, the Land Team, the Torres Strait Ranger Programme support unit, the Indigenous Protected Areas and Team and the Compliance Program. These five teams support the rangers across thirteen Torres Strait Islands to deliver land and sea management activities on behalf of their communities.

TSRA thanks Mr Thomas Savage from the Kaurareg Native Title Aboriginal Corporation for providing the name powuppoon and the story behind it. Elder Thomas Savage said, “powuppoon is the traditional Kaurareg name for the pheasant coucal. The powuppoon is passionate about its surroundings, determined, steadfast and a conservationist, always seeking to preserve natural things”.

TSRA Chairperson Mr Napau Pedro Stephen said, “Powuppoon Haus is a vibrant building that highlights the Environmental Management programme staff and the great work they do managing our natural and cultural resources in the Torres Strait, in line with community priorities and traditional ecological knowledge”.

The name powuppoon is a fitting representation of TSRA’s work as we continue striving to preserve the Torres Strait’s environmental and cultural values for the benefit of all.

Learn more about the TSRA’s Environmental Management Programme on our website at https://www.tsra.gov.au/the-tsra/programmes/env-mgt-program