Matt Nicholls, Cape York Weekly

Armed with a list of issues that need addressing in the Far North, the remote mayors and council CEOs from the Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance were met with a warm welcome. “We felt like we were listened to,” said Lockhart River mayor Wayne Butcher, who is also the chair of TCICA.

A helicopter survey along the east coast of Cape York has revealed the extent of plastic pollution in the region. Commissioned by the Tangaroa Blue Foundation as part of the ReefClean program, the survey identified 2882 plastic floats, 211 ghost nets, 147 long line beacons and 234 fish attracting devices among thousands of items of plastic pollution.

Ticketed events for this month’s Cooktown Expo are close to selling out, but there is still plenty of accommodation available for those wanting to take advantage of 10 days and nights of free events from this Friday ... Cooktown’s Reconciliation Rocks precinct where Australia’s first recorded act of reconciliation took place in 1770 between James Cook and a Waymburr Warra Elder will be officially opened on Friday.

Council leaders from across the Cape and Torres Strait will head to Canberra this week to speak with politicians and bureaucrats from both major parties as they look to address issues in the region. Organised under the banner of the Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance, the mayors, CEOs and senior staff will also try and arrange a sit down with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

An Indigenous logging company will start initial milling of timber and create more than 50 new jobs, mostly in the Cape, thanks to a grant from the state government. Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said the government has given a $480,000 grant to Wik Timber Holdings to purchase and install a Gibson sawmill. “Wik Timber is an Indigenous-owned company that specialises in harvesting timber on mining leases that would otherwise have to be incinerated,” Mr Miles said.

Weipa's newest tour guides are loving life on the Cape. Darren Corke and partner Jane Monacella are five weeks into their stint for the tourist season ... “I’m really impressed with the area and how many crocs there are in the water. The amount of wildlife; from fish to dolphins, turtles, snakes and birds ... there’s something different to see with every boat trip,” says Darren.