Latest News

This Library and Information Week, Cooktown Library is inviting the community to sharpen their critical thinking skills at Truth Be Told—a free information session exploring the growing world of misinformation and disinformation. Held on Wednesday 29 July at 10:30am,...

From new sporting equipment and upgraded community facilities to local events and business initiatives, great ideas often start with one challenge—finding the funding to make them happen. That's why free Grant Writing Workshops are being offered this August, giving...

Please be advised of a planned burn to take place near Mulligan Highway. Residents and motorists are advised that the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and Yuku Baja Muliku Rangers will be conducting planned burns within Annan River (Yuku Baja Muliku)...

The first week of the school holidays has been packed with creativity, adventure, sport and plenty of smiling faces, with children and families making the most of a fantastic line-up of free activities across the region. From library craft sessions and pool games to...

When disaster strikes, local knowledge can make all the difference. Residents of Portland Roads and Coen are invited to help strengthen their community's disaster preparedness by sharing their local knowledge and experiences at upcoming Local Area Disaster Plan...

Community drop-in sessions announced as Cook Shire's Childcare Business Case enters its final stage of consultation. Community members are being encouraged to take one final opportunity to help shape the future of childcare in Cooktown and surrounding communities,...

Laura was buzzing with excitement on Tuesday 30 June as families came together for a deadly Laura Family Fun Day, packed with laughter, adventure and plenty of school holiday fun in Cape York. Held in the heart of Laura, the community event brought children, parents,...

Please be advised that the Cooktown Splash Park is back open after the essential maintenance took place.  Thank you for your understanding and patience while these works took place.  

Free mulch will be back with residents able to collect mulch throughout an entire week this July. The giveaway will take place at the Cooktown Waste Transfer Station during normal operating hours from Tuesday 14 July for a whole week. Residents are encouraged to take...

Get ready for another term of stories, songs, smiles and fun as First 5 Forever Storytime returns for Term 3! Designed for children aged 0–5 years, Storytime is a fun-filled session where little ones can sing, listen to stories, explore books, play and learn in a...

Developers of the new IGA supermarket have notified Council of planned controlled minor blasting works at the construction site on the corner of Charlotte and Walker Streets, Cooktown. The controlled blast is expected to occur later this week or early next week as...

Please be advised that the Cooktown Splash Park remains closed while essential maintenance works are carried out.  Updates will be provided once the maintence is complete and the Splash Park is ready to reopen.  Thank you for your understanding and patience while...

Cook Shire Council advises that the speed limit on Quarantine Bay Road will be reduced to 60 km/h following an independent road safety assessment. The new 60 km/h speed limit will apply from the Mulligan Highway intersection through to Walker Bay Road, where the speed...

The Cooktown community is preparing to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2026 with one of the biggest and most diverse programs in recent years. Bringing together cultural workshops, family activities, community celebrations and opportunities to honour the strength, resilience...

Coen residents are reminded that there is still time to provide feedback to the Queensland Department of Education on proposed future improvements to Coen Kindergarten and the Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy (CYAAA) Coen campus. The Queensland Department of...

The community is being advised of a special Council meeting for the purpose of adopting councils 26—27 Annual Budget. Matters to be tabled at this meeting are considered confidential under Section 254C of the Local Government Regulation 2012, this meeting will occur 9...

Please be advised that the Cooktown Splash Park will be closed on Tuesday 23 June 2026 at 6:30am to 12:00pm for scheduled maintenance. Thank you for your understanding while these works take place.   

From local roads and community projects to childcare, the Cooktown Hospital redevelopment and more, there's plenty happening across Cook Shire. Join Mayor Robyn Holmes and CEO Brian Joiner at the Cooktown Discovery Festival for a relaxed on-stage conversation about...

Congratulations to Cooktown State School student, Xania Gordon who was drawn as the winner of the "Spin in and Win with Council" activity at the recent Cooktown Careers Expo. Xania, a Year 11 student, was randomly selected as the winner of a pair of Apple AirPods 4...

Temporary pool closure Wednesday 17 June 2026 from 12PM - 2PM. Please be advised that due to staff shortages the Cooktown Swimming Pool will be closed from 12PM - 2PM on Wednesday 17 June. Thank you for your understanding.

Community members are invited to share their experiences, challenges and ideas as part of a project to better understand childcare and early childhood education needs across Cooktown and surrounding communities. Beacon Strategies has been engaged to undertake a...

Cook Shire Council's proposed 2026-27 Budget will be presented for adoption later this month following an extensive planning process that began in October 2025 and included more than eight dedicated budget workshops, multiple planning meetings and extensive...

Plan ahead and prepare for the loud festival events during the Cooktown Discovery Festival. Pet owners are encouraged to plan ahead for the Cooktown Discovery Festival, with both the traditional musket firing and fireworks display expected to create loud noise that...

Boat users are reminded that a temporary exclusion zone will be in place on Saturday 20 June 2026 from 1PM - 9PM for the Cooktown Discovery festival fireworks display. Boats must not enter, moor, or operate within the exclusion zone, which is a 200m diameter circle...

The Australian Government is introducing AusAlert, a new national warning system designed to deliver emergency information directly to compatible mobile devices during disasters and other significant emergencies. The system is scheduled to go live on 1 October 2026,...

More than 150 ideas from local students have been collected following Cook Shire Council’s interactive Spin Into Council activation at the 2026 Careers Expo, providing valuable insight into what young people would like to see in the future of their communities. Held...

With visitor numbers set to increase across the region during the upcoming Discovery Festival, Laura long weekend and peak tourism season, residents and visitors are being reminded of a simple and affordable way to dispose of everyday household rubbish responsibly....

Residents and visitors are encouraged to make reporting local issues easier than ever with the Snap Send Solve app. Whether it’s a pothole, damaged signage, illegal dumping, graffiti, overgrown vegetation on council land or another maintenance issue, Snap Send Solve...

A successful evening of entertainment, creativity and community spirit unfolded at the Cooktown Events Centre as young performers took to the stage for Cook Shire’s Got Talent 2026. The 2026 Cook Shire’s Got Talent competition once again highlighted the incredible...

Cook Shire Council will conduct a public auction of impounded vehicles on Monday 29 June 2026 at the Waste Transfer Station on MacMillan Street, Cooktown. Members of the public are invited to attend, with vehicle inspections available from 9.00am. The auction will...

The Cooktown waterfront was buzzing with excitement on Thursday afternoon as young anglers lined the banks for another successful Blue Lures Fishing Competition. A total of 40 young people registered for the event, with 55 participants and family members joining in...

Make a splash these school holidays with Splash N’ Play at the Cooktown Swimming Pool. Running every Tuesday and Thursday during the June–July school holidays, Splash N’ Play is all about keeping kids active, social and having fun in the water. From pool games and...

Cook Shire Libraries are set to bring colour, creativity and culture to the June–July school holidays with a vibrant program of hands-on activities across Cooktown, Lakeland and Bloomfield. Running over two weeks, the sessions will include craft, storytelling-style...

Free School Holiday Fun Returns to Coen! Get ready for a week of free fun, games and activities these school holidays in Coen! From Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July, children and families can enjoy a fantastic lineup of activities including library fun, soccer,...

Laura Family Fun Day brings free school holiday fun for families. Get ready for a deadly day packed with heaps of free school holiday fun for the whole family at the Laura Family Fun Day on Tuesday 30 June from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Bring the whole family along for an...

The Cooktown Events Centre is set to come alive these June–July school holidays with a packed program of activities, workshops, movies and creative experiences for local families and young people. From drop-in sports sessions and movie afternoons to hands-on art...

Parents, carers and teachers are encouraged to help young people make the most of this year's Cooktown Careers Expo, proudly hosted by Cooktown P-12 State School, by attending and exploring the wide range of career pathways, training opportunities and local employers...

Cooktown Resilience through Chalk Workshops at the Skate Park. Colour, creativity and community connection will take over the Cooktown Skate Park this July with two free Chalk Workshops designed to bring people together through art, fun and resilience-building...

Community members, families and young people are invited to enjoy two days of imaginative theatre and creative workshops this July as Catbird Theatre visits Cooktown for a special school holiday program. Based on the Sunshine Coast, Catbird Theatre creates original...

Cook Shire is set for a vibrant and action-packed school holiday period, with a wide range of free and low-cost activities running across Cooktown, Coen, Laura, Lakeland and Bloomfield from 29 June to 10 July 2026. Families can look forward to two weeks of fun,...

Drinking water now safe to consume Lakeland residents are being advised that the boil water alert issued on 18 May 2026 has now been lifted. Following the completion of repairs to the Lakeland water treatment system, flushing of the water network, and satisfactory...

The Cooktown Swimming Pool has transitioned to its winter operating hours, continuing to provide residents and visitors with opportunities to stay active and enjoy the facility throughout the cooler months. From Monday to Friday, the pool is open from 6:00am to...

Discover powerful First Nations stories at Cooktown Library this National Reconciliation Week.  The Cooktown Library will mark National Reconciliation Week with a special display celebrating First Nations authors and storytellers. Now on display, the vibrant...

Works along the Finch Bay section of the Scenic Rim Walking Trail Restoration Project remain ongoing, with significant progress continuing across the site. To date: The existing sand ladder has been removed Installation of new boardwalk materials is currently underway...

Mayor Robyn Holmes shares an update from this week’s Council meeting, covering the adoption of the 2026–27 Community Budget Insights Report, community priorities, fees and charges, grant funding and Council’s ongoing financial management. The update highlights key...

Council has formally endorsed and published the 2026–27 Budget Consultation Community Insights Report following this week’s Ordinary Council Meeting, marking Cook Shire Council’s most successful budget engagement process to date. More than 115 residents from across...

The Cooktown Botanic Gardens came alive on Sunday 24 May, as locals and visitors gathered to celebrate Botanic Gardens Day 2026, wrapping up a successful week of community events, workshops and activities. With beautiful sunshine overhead, the gardens were filled with...

Families and young children are invited to enjoy a relaxed morning of stories, songs and outdoor fun at the upcoming Teddy Bear Picnic hosted by the Cook Shire Council Libraries. Set amongst the beautiful surrounds of the Cooktown Botanic Gardens, the free community...

Nature’s Powerhouse Café is serving up a unique celebration of culture, flavour, and local ingredients this National Reconciliation Week, with a limited-edition menu inspired by native Australian bush foods. Available from Wednesday 27 May until 3 June (or until sold...