On the first day of the economic mission to Australia, Princess Astrid visited Barangaroo metro station, which is being developed by Besix Watpac, a subsidiary of Besix Group. She was also immersed in Aboriginal culture, including a traditional smoking ceremony.
Barangaroo, a borough in the northwest of Sydney’s CBD, is one of the Aboriginal strongholds. They used the area for fishing and hunting even before colonization. About twenty years ago, the New South Wales government decided to upgrade the district, including commercial office spaces and recreational areas. Because Sydney is currently working on a large-scale metro project, it was decided to also build a station in Barangaroo.
It is Besix Watpac, a subsidiary of the Brussels construction and real estate group Besix since 2018, that was awarded the contract for the construction of the Barangaroo Station. The project is part of ‘Sydney Metro’, Australia’s largest public transport project. Besix Watpac supplied, among other things, the underground platforms, the complete furnishings and the station entrance. The station, which is scheduled to open to travelers in 2024, also pays tribute to the rich Aboriginal culture and improves access to a number of areas.
Princess Astrid visited the metro station on Monday morning, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib, Flemish Minister of Finance Matthias Diependaele, Brussels Prime Minister Rudi Vervoort and Walloon Minister of Economy Willy Borsus in tow. The delegation was welcomed by Mark Baker, CEO of Besix Watpac, who underlined the importance of “uniting Australia and Belgium through a shared commitment to the construction sector”.
Aboriginal culture
The princess was also immersed in Aboriginal culture with a traditional smoking ceremony. This is an age-old yet contemporary tradition that is central to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Its purpose is to cleanse the place where the ceremony takes place of evil spirits and promote the health and well-being of its residents.
On Monday morning, the princess and ministers also met with David John Hurley, the Governor-General of Australia, who represents Britain’s King Charles III in the Commonwealth country, at his official residence. The princess signed a golden book and had a short meeting with the governor general.
The morning ended with a lunch organized by the Belgian Federation of Enterprises and the European Australian Business Council to give Belgian business leaders the opportunity to meet Australian business people. Princess Astrid presented an award to Jason Collins, the CEO of the European Australian Business Council and Honorary Consul of Belgium in Sydney, for his role in promoting Belgian companies in Australia.
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