Aurukun recently hosted an important Round Table discussion with key government and local stakeholder groups to establish current and future priorities for the remote Cape York community.
The Round Table was organised by Aurukun Shire Council Mayor Dereck Walpo in conjunction with the new Director-General of the Queensland Government Department of State Development Michael Schaumburg, who is also the new Government Champion for Aurukun.
Aurukun Round Table attendees included:
- Senior police, including Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Paul Taylor
- Aurukun Shire Councillors
- Ngan Aak-Kunch
- Billy Gordon, Member for Cook
- Ron Weatherall, Deputy Director-General of Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DATSIP)
- Senior departmental representatives from Prime Minister and Cabinet, DATSIP, Justice and Attorney-General, Health, and State Development
- representation from Cape York Australian Aboriginal Academy (CYAAA), PCYC, the Family Responsibilities Commission, Community Justice Group, Apunipima Cape York Health Council, and other community organisations.
Mayor Walpo said the Round Table was a key initiative to help identify a clear program of work, including responsibilities, timeframes and measures of success, for improving community safety, as well as community development and wellbeing, in Aurukun.
“Overall, it was a very productive and positive meeting in which we discussed a number of important issues,” said Mayor Walpo.
“A number of key actions were agreed to that will assist Council in the provision of services to the community, including external financial support for a Sports Centre and the possible realignment of some Council boundaries.
“We also spent time receiving an update on key community safety activities currently occurring in Aurukun.
“This was a very important day for our community, and I’d like to thank all attendees for their vital input, especially in establishing an action plan to keep Aurukun moving forward.
“There has been a lot of positive progress in Aurukun over recent years, and I’m determined to make sure we keep heading in the right direction.”
Aurukun Shire Council raised the following main priorities for the community:
- Funding (full or partial) for community police
- Full funding of CCTV and other security measures
- Upgrade of telecommunications upgrade and internet capacity – state, federal and local governments and Telstra to work in partnership
- Residential land development with significant funding – state and federal governments to provide staff housing for these land allotments
- Industrial land development with significant funding
- Realignment of Cook Shire boundaries
- Establishment of a government hub in Aurukun Business Precinct.
A general discussion was held on community issues, including:
- Alcohol management plan
- Drugs risk
- PCYC’s proposed unit development
- Neighbourhood project
- Community Safety Plan.