Latest News

Grab your little pirates and prepare for a morning of stories, songs and seaside adventure when Pirate Playtime drops anchor at Cooktown Library. Families with children aged 0–5 years are invited to climb aboard the library's Musical Ship on Wednesday 16 September for...

Missing your weekly aqua aerobics class? Waterless Workouts are a fun, low-impact way to stay active until you're back in the pool. Join Peta for a friendly one-hour group fitness class featuring the same gentle style of movement you know and enjoy from aqua...

Cook Shire residents are being encouraged to help build a more accurate picture of the region by taking part in the 2026 Census on Tuesday 11 August. Held every five years, the Census counts people and households across Australia and provides important information...

Council's Biosecurity team is encouraging the community to remain vigilant and report sick or dead wild birds as part of ongoing surveillance for avian influenza (bird flu). H5 bird flu has recently been detected in Queensland, however there are currently no known...

It starts with dedication, perseverance and the people who make sport part of our community. Across Cook Shire, athletes, teams and sporting contributors achieve remarkable things every year. Now it's time to celebrate them. Nominations are now open for the 36th North...

Community members are advised that contractors will be using the Marton Boat Ramp from Tuesday 4 August for approximately two days to remove derelict vessels from the Endeavour River. The boat ramp will remain open to the public, but the area may be busier than usual...

THESE BURNS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED Residents are advised that several planned hazard reduction burns will take place across Cook Shire from Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August 2026. Smoke may be visible in and around the affected areas. All burns are planned and controlled...

Looking for a fun day out while learning more about how you can support your community? The SES Open Day is coming to Lakeland on Saturday, 22 August 2026, inviting families, residents and anyone interested in volunteering to come along, meet the local SES team and...

Property owners, landlords and renters are invited to join local fire and land management experts for a practical evening focused on bushfire preparedness and safer backyard burning. Backyard Burning:101 will be held from 5:30pm to 8pm on Friday 14 August 2026 at...

A contractor will carry out a single helicopter lift tomorrow morning to deliver large, heavy finishing pieces to the Scenic Rim project site. Because the work area is reached only by a walking trail through steep bushland, the materials cannot be safely carried in by...

Get ready for an afternoon of curiosity, creativity and discovery. What happens when you mix curious young minds with a room full of science experiments, engineering challenges and creative problem-solving? You get an afternoon where learning feels like an adventure....

Looking for a fun after-school activity? Young people aged 6–12 years are invited to join a free six-week drumming program at Rossville Hall. Running throughout August and September, the free after-school workshops will give young school-aged children the chance to...

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)...

Access to Finch Bay has reopened, with the new boardwalk now ready for residents and visitors to use. The boardwalk structure provides a more accessible, stable and reliable route to the beach than the previous sand track. Designed to improve access for a wider range...

Important upgrade works at Cooktown Swimming Pool will begin on Friday 24 July 2026, requiring the pool to close temporarily. The first stage will involve upgrading the pool’s chlorination system. Subject to the works progressing as planned and the system being...

Whether you want to feel more confident using technology, learn how to spot misleading information, meet other families or simply give the kids space to create, there is something for everyone at Cook Shire Libraries during Library and Information Week 2026. Libraries...

Losing important personal documents during a disaster can make getting back on your feet far more difficult than it needs to be. Following the devastation caused by Cyclone Jasper, many residents lost essential documents including driver licences, passports, bank...

Professional puppetry, storytelling and hands-on creativity captivated local families during Catbird Theatre's two-day visit to Cooktown, with 63 people taking part across live performances and interactive workshops. Held on Wednesday 8 July and Thursday 9 July as...

Cook Shire Council has been advised that the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) will be carrying out inspections of the Hann River bridges on the Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) in Laura on Wednesday 22 July and Thursday 23 July 2026. These inspections...

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...