What matters most to you in Cook Shire—roads, water, events, or community services? Council’s been out and about, listening to what locals have to say—and there’s still time for your voice to be heard.
Over the past month, Cook Shire Council has been rolling out community engagement activities to inform the 2025–26 Budget and long-term planning. From pop-up stalls to school visits and a big turnout at the recent Cooktown Community Update on 5 March, it’s been all about putting community priorities front and centre.
Community Update & Budgeting Session
Held at the Cooktown Events Centre, the Community Update included a presentation from Council’s CEO and key officers, providing updates on:
-
The $2.96 million TC Jasper flood clean-up effort
-
Water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades
-
Cooktown Events Centre programs and improvements
-
Planning for Discovery Festival 2025
-
The budget process and key challenges for the year ahead
Participants also took part in an interactive budgeting activity, gaining insight into how Council balances community needs with available revenue. Some of the feedback about the event participants on the night was captured in the adjacent wordcloud.
Taking the Conversation Further
Council has continued the conversation by:
-
Hosting stalls at the Cooktown Markets
-
Connecting with community members at the recent Council meeting in Lakeland
-
Visiting schools and community groups across the Shire to promote participation in the Budget Survey and Community Scorecard Study
What’s the Community Scorecard Study?
The Community Scorecard is an independent survey, run by Catalyse, that helps Council:
-
Understand what’s working well
-
Identify areas for improvement
-
Ensure priorities reflect community expectations
-
Track progress over time
✔️ It’s anonymous
✔️ It’s open to all residents and ratepayers aged 14+
✔️ It’s already shaping Council’s future planning
🕔 Final call! The Scorecard Study closes at 5pm, Thursday 4 April 2025—make your voice count before time runs out.