Media Release: Jet Zero Establishes Long-Term Partnership with Bindal People for Project Ulysses

Jet Zero Australia Pty Ltd (Jet Zero) has signed a comprehensive Cultural Heritage Management Agreement (CHMA or Agreement) with the Bindal people, the traditional owners and custodians of the Townsville and Burdekin lands in North Queensland, including for the Project Ulysses (the Project) site in Townsville.

The CHMA is an important milestone for the Project and was executed between Jet Zero and the Bindal elders and representatives during a formal signing ceremony in Townsville on Sunday 24th May 2026.

The Agreement follows more than two years of workshops, site visits and development of a shared vision to advance the Project through a best-practice framework where First Nations culture and advanced sustainable development thrive.

Importantly, the agreement improves the operational and development certainty for the Project through the implementation of cultural heritage duty of care into daily operations including a framework for the identification, protection, and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Key initiatives moving forward include:

Community Partnership Opportunities: A framework to explore future training, employment pathways, and broader collaboration opportunities for Bindal community members as the project matures.
Participation Embedded in Project Delivery: Traditional Owner representatives to lead cultural heritage investigations, monitoring, inductions and ancestral ceremonies throughout the project lifecycle.
Cultural Awareness Inductions: Comprehensive training for site contractors and Jet Zero personnel, led by Bindal representatives, ensuring our entire workforce understands and respects the deep cultural history of the land.

Jet Zero’s CEO, Ed Mason, said the agreement reflected the importance of establishing a long term partnership with traditional owners of the Project Ulysses site from the earliest stages of project development.

“This agreement represents far more than the fulfilment of a cultural heritage duty of care obligation. It formalises a long-term partnership built on mutual respect and transparency.

“As we progress Project Ulysses, we are committed to working alongside the Bindal people to ensure Aboriginal cultural heritage is protected and managed appropriately across all stages of the Project.

“We thank the Bindal elders for the constructive and collaborative approach they have taken throughout discussions over the past two years and acknowledge the strong relationship that has been built through that process,” Mr Mason said.

Senior Bindal elder Eddie Smallwood welcomed the CHMA and acknowledged the strong relationship developed between the Bindal people and Jet Zero throughout the process.

“Thank you for the collaborative work between the parties to develop this CHMA. We have established a strong relationship based on good will and we are looking at developing that partnership and building the trust between us,” Mr Smallwood said.

Media contact: Leo Shanahan lshanahan@jetzero.com.au (0422 029 730)