Mark Bailey says he is blown away with the progress of the Lockhart River community every time he visits the place.

The Minister for Main Roads and Transport was unable to visit the Cape community last year because of COVID restrictions but said he walked away impressed after dropping in last week.

“What they are doing there is absolutely trailblazing,” he said on Friday after his visit.

“They are the leading community in the Cape in what they are doing in terms of having a vision and getting it done.”

As Lockhart River’s Ministerial Champion, Mr Bailey keeps in close contact with mayor Wayne Butcher, council CEO Dave Clarke and various community groups.

“They are the dynamic duo,” he said of the council leaders.

“You only have to see the new airport to see some of the stuff they have achieved.

“When you arrive it’s welcoming and there’s the sense of care. It’s a great entry statement.”

Mr Bailey said the council’s push to create a cultural dance site near the beach was making fast progress.

“They are working on a line of utilities from the town out to the beach. There’s probably about another 250 metres to go before they get there,” he said.

“They have already cleared the site where the dance ground will be and it’s going to be a beautiful space.”

The Minister said the town now needed support from Telstra and the federal government to fix the telecommunications problems that plague the community.

“I wrote to Telstra earlier this month raising the issue,” he said.

“It’s got to be sorted out. The state government and the council are moving mountains and making progress and there’s a big ball and chain around their ankles with the feds and Telstra not getting it fixed.

“I’ll keep raising it until it is solved. The people of Lockhart River deserve the same level of telecommunications that people in Cairns enjoy.

“The federal government needs to pull its finger out.”

This article appeared in Cape York Weekly, 15 June 2021.