Aurukun Shire Council celebrated the opening of its Cairns office with about 50 people including Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Curtis Pitt and Cairns Mayor Bob Manning on September 22.
Aurukun Mayor Dereck Walpo said the new office would accommodate council’s eight Cairns-based support staff including business development, grants management, finance, purchasing, payroll and information technology functions.
“These staff visit Aurukun on a regular rotation basis and all senior management staff are located in Aurukun Shire Council’s head office in the Aurukun community,” he said.
“The Cairns-based staff provide much-needed support for the council, the management team and their colleagues based in Aurukun.
“This new office will provide significant financial, administrative and cost-saving benefits for the council as our property investment will cease outgoing rent-related costs and increase profits through council leasing any unused space.
“This strategic and financially-sound business decision will mean savings of about $100,000 per annum.”