The remote Indigenous township of Aurukun on Cape York has opened the Sam Kerindun Snr Business Precinct, a community-driven initiative to help build economic opportunities.
The Mayor of Aurukun Shire Council, Derek Walpo said the precinct in the heart of the small town has attracted major tenants such as Rio Tinto, the Department of Public Housing and Works and community organization APN.
“Until now most services such as the bank and the post office were all based at the Council office.
“These facilities are now part of the Aurukun Business Precinct.
“It is good to have the capacity to offer professional offices for important tenants such as Rio Tinto, APN and Bendigo.”
The newly opened business precinct houses professional offices, a bakery, café, light retail and a Laundromat, plus has created 20 jobs for the community.
“Before now our town of 1400 people had one grocery store and a small takeaway outlet that opened limited hours only on week days.
“We now have new food services seven days a week.
“This is a small step towards our strategy to create a better lifestyle for Aurukun people, and to provide the infrastructure needed to build our economic base.”
The building has been named after local community Elder Sam Kerindun Snr who constructed his family home on the now precinct site in the 1930s.
His children Councillor Edgar Kerindun, Deputy Mayor Angus Kerindun, Maryanne Kerindun and former Councillor Tony Kerindun participated in the opening ceremony.
“We would like to thank the Federal and State governments for funding this initiative.”
