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Cape York
Nearly 1.5 million hectares recognised at historic FNQ native title determinations: Stewart
Cape York Traditional Owners have reconnected with their land, culture and history as part of four historic determinations which saw nearly 1.5 million hectares of land recognised under native title ... “Knowing that elders can go back on country, knowing that it’s theirs and they will be able to live and work on the country. There is a lot of closure in that”: Joanne Nelson ... Native title is recognised over more than 536,000 square kilometres of land in Queensland, with about 305,000 square kilometres currently subject to native title claims.
Region growth steady
Weipa is the boom town of Cape York as census figures revealed it is the highest earning community in the region and also one of the fastest growing. Overall, Cape York showed steady growth in both population and household income, although there were some exceptions, with Weipa standing out.
Budget delivers big for the Cape
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui says she is thrilled that Cape York received its fair share in the 2022-23 state budget ... “In this year’s budget we are making record investments in health, education, jobs, renewables, and community services like police, fire and emergency services,” Ms Lui said.
Virus found in Cape
Cape York residents and tourists are being encouraged to cover up and wear insect repellent to avoid mosquito bites after the Japanese encephalitis virus was detected in feral pigs near Skardon River. JEV cannot be spread from the pigs to humans, experts say, but are transmitted by mosquitoes.
Governor gets involved in Cooktown’s big event
Queen Elizabeth’s representative for Queensland has given Cooktown and its annual Discovery Festival the royal thumbs up after visiting the Cape over the weekend. Her Excellency, the Honourable Jeannette Young and her husband Graeme Nimmo were eager participants ... Highlights of the weekend were the markets, with hundreds flowing through the stalls over the weekend, the street parade, inaugural 4x4 muster, the sunset soiree and fireworks, all capped off by the reenactment on Sunday morning.
Another classic Weipa weekend
Weipa has once again put on a show to enhance its reputation as the events capital of Cape York. The Weipa Fishing Classic had all the Fs - family, fun, fireworks and, of course, fishing.
Comment: Cape needs Loop road
Off-road adventuring has been the backbone of the Cape York tourism industry for decades, yet has somehow survived with the bare minimum amount of support. It has been people power that has kept the 4WD market ticking over – often individuals who have cleared tracks or built makeshift bridges through remote parts of the Peninsula. However, there is a real fear among locals that we could lose the adventure tourism market.
Council stands up to Irwin family
Cook Shire Council has refused to be intimidated by lawyers for the Irwin family and Australia Zoo, voting unanimously to keep the track known as Bertiehaugh Road open. The track, accessed via Stones Crossing, north of Weipa, has been a hot issue in the Cape for more than a decade.
Tourism dollars starting to flow to Cape’s businesses
A slow tourist season should spring to life in the coming weeks as travellers embark on their trip of a lifetime to Cape York... “The tourist park is running as per usual and we’ve got live entertainment every night” : Ken Godfrey, Bramwell Station ... Cape York Mountain Bike Adventures has become popular ... ride all the way to the Tip via the Old Telegraph Track.
Politics plagues housing funding
More than 50 new homes will be built in Cape York communities to address major overcrowding issues, but the state government has taken all the credit, despite using federal funding. Not for the first time, the health and wellbeing of Queensland’s most remote and vulnerable residents has been politicised.
