by Robert J Lee
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT LEFT WITH EGG ALL OVER ITS FACE
THE CAIRNS POST AND THE ABC HAVE HAD THIS STORY FOR 3 WEEKS BUT WILL NOT TOUCH IT
TROUBLE AHEAD FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF CAPE YORK PENINSULA WITH A NEW INDIGENOUS STATE TO BE CREATED
Cape York Land Council takes control of the Peninsula Development Road on Cape York Peninsula.
Cape York Land Council says the $210 million Mein Deviation road job near Weipa can start
The prospect of Northern Development hailed by the Federal Government as the panacea for northern Australia has been placed on the back foot after the State Government and the Cape York Land Council signed an agreement allowing the Land Council to control the Peninsula Development Road, the main arterial access to Cape York.
The Land Council claims it wants jobs for local community residents but some Cape Traditional Owners, businessmen and pastoralists believe it to be a “greedy land grab for the few at the top of the CYLC” that will not benefit most struggling communities.
There will be more of the traditional CYLC ‘jobs for their boys’ who in most cases are never local indigenous businesses. Richie AhMat, Gerhardt and Noel Pearson are in bed with the big boys and their predictions of jobs for Peninsula indigenous contractors like most of their other failed, expensive schemes will also fail local businesses, contractors and the long-suffering community resident.
The state and federal governments have rolled over to the unrepresentative CYLC yet again. Next comes the new Aboriginal state of Cape York above the 16th Parallel with the TOLL gates set at Laura or Lakeland.
Every local authority in the nation should be terrified about the hijacking of this vital state government-owned road that is the only land access to important northern defence facilities and the major mining town of Weipa.
Meanwhile September is a few days away and the wet season a few months away. Starting such major roadworks near Weipa that should have begun in May will be a disaster for the unlucky contractor, soon to be announced.
And the annual $25 billion Aboriginal industry, taxpayer feeding frenzy continues for CYLC and Balkanu……..
Meetings to discuss Cape York issues to be held soon
A series of meetings about the Penisula Development Road will be held next week across Cape York Peninsula.
Contact: info@cyfs.com.au – (07) 40532856
Meeting Dates:
Cooktown Monday 3rd August 5.30pm – 7pm Sovereign Resort
Coen Hotel Wednesday 5th August 4.00pm – 5.30pm
Lakeland Hotel Monday 3rd August 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Laura Tuesday 4th August 10am – 11.30am Quinkan Hotel
Lockhart River Church Hall Tuesday 11th August 10am – 12.30pm
Loyalty beach camp ground and fishing lodge Friday 7th August 5.30pm – 7pm
Musgrave Roadhouse Tuesday 4th August 3.30pm – 5pm
Weipa Albatross Bay Resort Tuesday 6th August 5.30pm – 7pm
It would seem Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch has been fence sitting over this issue and continues to ignore the voice of the people. He may have started his own political demise with voter anger reaching boiling point in North Queensland.
FACEBOOK PUBLICATION
Gerhardt Pearson Facebook Source: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009743923034
Landmark agreement paves way for Peninsula Development Road
Published on Facebook – 29 July 2015
THE Cape York Land Council today signed an important agreement which paves the way for the start of construction on the Mein Deviation and other sections of the Peninsula Development Road, known as the PDR.
Under this agreement, the Queensland Government and Native Title Holders will now begin negotiations to settle an Indigenous Land Use Agreement for the whole of the PDR by the end of 2015. These negotiations follow the lodgment and registration of one of Australia’s largest native title claims earlier in the year, over Cape York.
Chairman of the Cape York Land Council, Mr Richie Ah Mat, said the Department of Transport and Main Roads could now finalise contract arrangements for construction to commence next week.
“There has been a mammoth effort by the Queensland Government and the Cape York Land Council to settle these outstanding matters over the last two months and our meetings over the last two days have endorsed our approach,” he said.
The agreement addresses Indigenous employment, training and business opportunities, cultural heritage clearance processes and environmental considerations.
“On Cape York, where the Indigenous community is battling very high unemployment, high incarceration rates and alcohol and drug abuse, projects such as the PDR are critical in providing opportunity to our mob,” said Mr Ahmat.
“This is a great example of the State Government recognising the Native Title and cultural interests of Traditional Owners to maintain respectful ongoing relationships to carry the PDR to completion.”
Under the agreement, a Traditional Owner steering committee has been established that will guide the settlement of the Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Queensland Government.
Mr Ahmat said that it was very important for Traditional Owner groups to work together on major linear projects such as the PDR. “An important principle of the Native Title claim has been that Traditional Owners speak for their country,” he said.
“Prior to the settlement of the Indigenous Land Use Agreement, there will need to be further discussions with Traditional Owners from along the road route”.
Southern Kandju and Negotiating committee member, Dion Creek, praised the agreement.
“For the first time, the State Labor Government, Cape York Land Council, and Traditional Owners have respectfully negotiated a single agreement covering the PDR,” he said.
“There can be no longer be any excuse for our people to remain on the sidelines, when it comes to capitalising on investments for the PDR and other road networks throughout Cape York.
Mr Creek said that PDR investments specified in the agreement would be used to increase the capacity of Indigenous people, through the provision of training and employment, enterprise facilitation and the commitment to support local business.
“We have a jobs crisis in Cape York,” he said. “It is a priority we must address
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