Cook Shire Council is strengthening ties with its Cape York neighbours, with members of the Yadaikana Tribal Council of Elders meeting Council for the first time recently.
Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott, Council Chief Executive Officer Tim Cronin and other staff met with the traditional owners in Cooktown earlier this month to discuss common
issues.
“Cook Shire covers a vast area of the Cape, and we work with a diverse group of people, but at the end of the day we all face the same issues,” said Mayor Scott.
“We all have to work together as a group to represent our remote and sparsely populated area and ensure we gain the best outcomes going forward.”
Issues raised by the Yadaikana representatives, who hail from Cape York north of the Wenlock River, were forging closer ties with neighbouring councils, including the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council and Cook Shire, further development of the Peninsula Development Road, Jardine River bridge and access to key tourism locations such as Vrilya Point and Captain Billy’s Landing.
“This meeting was historically important in establishing open and productive liaisons with our neighbouring councils and traditional owners, groups that will benefit us all and our region,” said Mayor Scott.
