The Queensland Government has announced plans to unlock 2000 megalitres of water in the Lakeland area, with smaller releases across seven Cape catchments. The move is part of the Unlocking Water Project, which aims to support agriculture and other industries. Cook MP David Kempton said Lakeland farmers have suffered chronic water shortages for years. Minister Ann Leahy said the project would drive agricultural growth and stronger regional economies. Plans for the proposed Lakeland Irrigation Area Scheme remain uncertain, with environmental concerns and opposition from some traditional owners.
A childcare worker, Edwina Ling, has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to 80 counts of common assault and two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm. The assaults took place at a childcare centre in Injinoo, on Cape York, over three days in late August and early September 2024. CCTV footage captured the attacks, and one 13-month-old boy was assaulted 55 times. The centre operated outside the National Quality Framework. Parents want accountability to extend to the organisation that ran the centre and to regulators.
Cape York sport news covers several community events. Ross Craven recorded a 36-par round on the Carpentaria Golf Course front nine on Wednesday, his handicap of five bringing his nett score to 31, and he is set to start from zero next week. Mick Cerneka finished runner-up, while Mick Foy was closest to the flag on the 7th and 9th holes. In Weipa, the Social Netball Club will host a Boot Scootin' Bingo night at the Alby on 23 October, with country music, raffles, line dancing and mechanical bull rides, all to raise funds.
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Two Indigenous women on Cape York have become the first female rangers in their communities to gain aerial shooting accreditation. Napranum Ranger Coordinator Marietta Matasia and Apudthama Ranger Coordinator Angelina Williams completed the course alongside Mapoon Rangers Gregory Hudson and Edwin Ling. The accreditation will help local ranger teams manage feral pigs and protect marine turtle nesting sites. The three-day course at Billy's Lagoon covered firearms safety, humane destruction of animals and licensing requirements. Feral pigs destroyed turtle eggs across western Cape York, and the alliance culled 7493 of them in the most recent nesting season.
Luke Christie won the morning's prize at the Carpentaria Golf Club on 18 October, returning a 47 gross and 14 nett score. Mick Cerneka and Scott Triffit both shot 43, while Steven Milzowski recorded the day's lowest score of 41. After handicaps were applied, Owen Wapshott took second place with a 48 gross and 15 nett. The Dawnbusters group will play the front nine on 25 October, with tee-off around 6:30 am.
Eight remote communities in Far North Queensland are now getting expanded NDIS support. The communities include Aurukun, Ayton, Coen, Cooktown, Degarra, Kowanyama, Shiptons Flat and Wujal Wujal. The Remote Community Connector program helps people with disabilities apply for support and connect with local services. Most face-to-face services are delivered by Aboriginal community controlled organisations. NDIA chief executive Graeme Head said the changes follow feedback from First Nations communities that support needs to be local, trusted and easier to access.
Federal and Queensland governments have teamed up with The Nature Conservancy to secure almost 400,000 hectares of land in Cape York and the Gulf of Carpentaria. The acquisitions include parts of Kendall River, Westmoreland and Cliffdale stations. The land is home to threatened species, including the palm cockatoo and grey falcon. Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell said the purchases would grow the state's protected area estate. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt said the Commonwealth contributed $3.5 million to the Westmoreland purchase.
Police have confirmed the Laura police station in Far North Queensland is empty while recruitment is underway to replace an officer on unplanned leave. Nearby officers from Cooktown and Hope Vale are covering patrols and call-outs, more than 140 kilometres away. The Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service says any gap in remote staffing is deeply concerning for domestic violence victims. The Queensland Police Union says the position could have been filled straight away and accuses the service of cost-cutting. Police say a relieving officer is being sought as soon as possible.
No Bull has won the 2026 Weipa Billfish Tournament for the fifth consecutive year. The team tagged 10 fish over the weekend of 3 to 5 October, ahead of Happy Ours and Get n Any. Thirteen boats took part, recording 65 strikes, 50 hookups and 33 billfish tagged. Weipa Billfish Club president Darryl French said unusual weather made mornings challenging, though conditions improved in the afternoons. He said the event and the local fishing scene had made game fishing more affordable and accessible, as trailer boats can reach the fishing grounds close to shore.
Jim Lucas took first place in a golf event at the Carpentaria Golf Club on 11 October, scoring 47 gross and 16 nett. Bernie Salam finished second on a countback with 61 gross and 17 nett, one shot behind the winner. Luke Marston and Lily Pembar won the men's and women's longest drive prizes. Nisa Hoffman regained the Hoffmans title after eight weeks. The Dawnbusters Championships take on the back nine on 18 October, with tee-off expected around 7 am.
Paiwan Lui won the Wednesday competition at Carpentaria Golf Club on 7 October, carding 40 for a nett score of 29.5. Mick Foy was runner-up with a nett 33. Weipa Social Netball Club will host a Boot Scootin' Bingo night at The Alby on 23 October, starting at 5:30 pm, to raise funds. On 17 October, Weipa Dirt Karts will hold its Enduro 2026 event from 4 pm, with free entry and a canteen open from the start.
Cape York Indigenous rangers and a consulting biologist have trekked more than 60 kilometres to search for endangered palm cockatoos. The team is retracing its 2024 survey route, not knowing how many birds survived Tropical Cyclone Narelle. The 2024 survey found 36 palm cockatoos, mostly along the Wenlock River. Results of the latest survey are due soon. A Queensland Government grant of more than $69,300 is funding a strategic burning project to protect the birds' habitat.
