Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott and two councillors have heard the concerns of residents living in the council’s smallest locality.

Around eight Portland Roads residents – or Iron Range if you want to be technical about the actual locality – attended a community forum last Tuesday to voice their concerns with the council representatives.

Councillors Peter Burns and Ross Logan joined Cr Scott in listening to their views.

Cook Shire CEO Linda Cardew and several other senior staff members were also meant to be in attendance, but ended up running late and missed the meeting (more on Page 20 [of Cape York Weekly, 9 November 2021]).

Long-time Portland Roads resident Greg Westcott said he was pleased the council had taken the time to listen to the concerns of residents.

“It didn’t start off all that well with the CEO and staff members not arriving on time, but in some ways that was a good thing because we could just talk openly,” he said.

“It was a good roll up and I think we had just about everyone who lives here in attendance.

“There are some other ratepayers here that live elsewhere and just visit.”

One of the hot topics was the desire for better water access in the area.

Locals are undecided about the best course of action, but some would like to see a wharf built at Portland Roads.

Mayor Peter Scott said it was unlikely the state government would fund such a project, but said the council would back the locals if that’s what they wanted.

“We’ll lobby for it and throw our support behind it, but I don’t think you’ve got a very good chance,” he told the meeting.

Mr Westcott said he understood why, but said something needed to be done to improve access in what was a growing part of Cape York from both a residential and tourism perspective.

“Some people are keen on a jetty and my personal opinion is a rock wall would be better suited, but I think we all agree that we need something better than what we have now,” the owner of Out Of The Blue cafe said.

“A rock wall might have less of an environmental impact.”

Re-establishing the Portland Roads Cape Weymouth Rural Fire Brigade was another topic for discussion, with staff from QFES in attendance to help provide advice.

“We haven’t had an AGM since 2017,” Mr Wescott said.

“As the ex-treasurer I still have an ancient passbook for $6000 which has never been spent.

“We’ll need to organise an AGM to be held as soon as possible so we can start again.”

Mr Westcott also raised the issue of Cook Shire canning plans to split the shire into divisions at the next election.

The council voted in 2019 to create wards to encourage a more geographically diverse group of councillors, but pulled the pin on that idea at last month’s general council meeting.

This article appeared in Cape York Weekly, 9 November 2021.