Fighting on our own
Deaths and high hospitalisation rates from COVID-19 will be the harsh reality for Cape residents if the state and federal governments do not act immediately to improve vaccination rates. The numbers in some communities are frighteningly low.
Yet the state and federal leaders have been absent ... The Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service has tried its best to service the vast region in a timely manner, however they are working in a flawed system. Some communities – Coen, for example – have only been able to access the vaccine on a handful of days this year.
Disaster management a major focus for councils
Mark Knowles. A Forum in Cairns last week highlighted the need to improve disaster resilience in Cape York and the Torres Strait. Organised by the Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance, the forum connected local councils, key government agencies, critical service providers, and non-government organisations from across North Queensland in order to improve disaster preparedness.
Sustainability gong for Auswaste
The passion to grow and expand their recycling business has earned Cooktown locals Kenny and Steffi Reid a Queensland-wide award nomination for sustainability. Their company Auswaste began operating in the Containers for Change scheme in Cooktown back in 2019 and has now become a vital cog in providing access to recycling right across the Cape.
Gateway to growth – Lakeland is Cape’s next boom town
Considered the Gateway to the Cape, the farming community of Lakeland is shaping as the gateway to growth in Cook Shire. Already the agricultural capital of the region, Lakeland’s potential to develop into a bustling township is being seriously considered by the council.
Cape Flattery miner has expansion on the radar
The future of the Cape Flattery mine north of Hope Vale appears to be bright as silica miner Diatreme Resources eyes expansion near its Galalar Silica Project. The company is currently undertaking low-impact auger drilling at two target sites. These targets make up two of the five northern exploration targets which cover a total area of 50 square kilometres. Diatreme CEO Neil McIntyre said the exploration targets had significant potential.
Conquer the Corrugations tests
Sunburn and blisters were the order of the day for the dedicated walkers who braved the scorching heat at this year’s Conquer the Corrugations. Around 180 people walked the 42km between Archer River and the Coen biosecurity centre over Saturday and Sunday.
Child care solution?
Parents forced to leave town or quit their jobs. Frustrated parents in Weipa are hoping that a survey could lead to a solution for the town’s growing child care issues ... Rio Tinto has lost some of its own employers as a result of the child care shortage and the mining company’s recent call to employ more local women was met with the complaint about the lack of options for care.
Technology helping Cape graziers
Mark Knowles. A new scientific project, dubbed SpaceCows, aims to help Indigenous rangers track and manage feral herds on their land in Cape York and northern Australia. The joint project, a partnership between Aboriginal land management groups, universities, CSIRO, a satellite company and Microsoft, uses artificial intelligence and data from satellite tracking to predict herd movements.
