Latest News

Weather Warning IDQ21013Heatwave Warning For QueenslandIssued at 01:48pm EST on Friday 6 November 2026Valid for Friday 6 November 2026 to Monday 9 November 2026 Safety Advice • Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies,...

Dust off those Christmas outfits and get ready to make some merry memories! Santa is making a special stop at the Cooktown Library this December and he’s ready to strike a pose with Cook Shire families. Ugly Christmas sweaters, matching family outfits and all things...

Residents in Coen are advised that immediate water restrictions have been put in place. Council is working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, however in the meantime, the community is being asked to reduce non-essential water use to help maintain supply for...

Due to staff shortages, the Cooktown Swimming Pool will close early at 3pm today, Wednesday 4 November 2026. Swim Club will still go ahead as normal, however, Underwater Hockey has been cancelled today. Thank you for understanding, we know the pool is a community...

Due to staff shortages, Bloomfield Library will be closed on Wednesday 4 November 2026.  Planning a visit to Bloomfield Library tomorrow? Please be aware that the Library will be closed for the day due to staff shortages.  The Library is expected to resume normal...

Have you ever wondered what goes into writing a book? Where the ideas come from, what inspires the stories and how it all comes together? Here's your chance to find out! Queensland author Lachlan Terry is coming to the Cooktown Library on Wednesday 18 November for a...

Due to staff shortages, the Cooktown Swimming Pool will close early at 3pm today, Tuesday 3 November 2026. However, Swim Club will still go ahead as normal. Thank you for understanding, we know the pool is a community favourite especially when the weather is warming...

Please be advised that scheduled works to extend the wastewater network at the eastern end of Garden Street, near the Cooktown Botanic Gardens, may cause brief access delays for residents and visitors. Short road closures and temporary driveway access restrictions...

What do crocodile jaws, chocolate, artificial intelligence and a flower-eating hippie have in common? They all found their way into a lively evening with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki in Cooktown. Around 250 people gathered at Cooktown Events Centre on Friday 30 October for a...

A temporary road closure will occur on Hope Street in association with a private development project. As a courtesy to residents and road users, the following traffic impact is being advised in advance. A temporary road closure will occur on a section of Hope Street,...

Applications for the senior housing unit at Endeavour Lodge have been reopened. Looking for independent senior accommodation in Cooktown? Expressions of interests have been reopened for one unit at Endeavour Lodge on Howard Street. Eligible Cook Shire residents are...

Stop the clocks, Cook Shire. The Battery Round-Up Challenge was due to wrap up this Saturday, 31 October, but it’s not over yet. The challenge has been given an extension right through to the end of Free Dumping Days on Sunday 22 November 2026. That’s three extra...

Nature’s Powerhouse is introducing new opening hours from Monday 2 November 2026, with the much-loved Cooktown facility continuing to welcome locals and visitors five days a week. Weekends stay firmly on the calendar, so your Saturday and Sunday coffee isn’t going...

We know families enjoy the splash park, unfortunately, it’s closed until further notice following a contamination incident. Our team is working as quickly as possible to clean the system and test the water. We’ll reopen the park once testing confirms it’s safe and...

Round up the crew, it’s time to start planning a trip to Laura! Cook Shire’s 2027 show day gazetted public holiday will fall on Friday 25 June 2027, giving the whole Shire a long weekend for the Laura Rodeo, Campdraft and Races Weekend.With the date now approved by...

Bring your young explorers to the Cooktown Botanic Gardens to discover tiny critters! There's a whole world of tiny neighbours living in Cooktown's gardens, and your little ones can discover them at Pop Up Playtime, Bugs in my Backyard on Wednesday 18 November. Bring...

There were soaring voices, laughter and more than a few tears as Opera Queensland brought Bravo! to Cooktown’s William Daku Waterfront on Thursday 22 October. Approximately 180 people gathered for the free concert, with long-time locals, families, friends, seniors and...

Cooktown Swimming Pool will operate with reduced hours this weekend due to staff illness and limited staff availability. Opening hours will be: Saturday 24 October: 12 noon to 5:30 pm Sunday 25 October: Closed Council apologises for the inconvenience and thanks pool...

Have you ever taken a photo and thought, ‘That looked so much better in real life’? Or spotted something beautiful and wished you knew how to capture it? Whether it's a spectacular sunset, a familiar face, a favourite local spot or one of those special, little...

Creativity was blooming across Cook Shire Libraries these school holidays, with families coming together to make, create and share in a little garden-inspired fun. Across two weeks of free school holiday activities, children and their families joined sessions at...

Cooktown’s history came alive after dark once again, as The Spirits of Cooktown returned to the Pioneer Cemetery for its third year, bringing local stories, characters and community voices together for two memorable nights. Presented by Box Jelly Theatre Company, the...

Our local cast is ready, the stories are waiting and the first performance is tonight. Now is your last chance to book tickets for The Spirits of Cooktown. Cooktown Pioneer Cemetery becomes the stage tonight and tomorrow evening, as local performers join Box Jelly...

Santa is making his list, checking it twice and heading for William Daku Park on Saturday 5 December 2026 for Cooktown’s much-loved Sunset with Santa celebration. Families are invited to pack a picnic, bring a chair or rug and settle in for a festive afternoon by the...

The community is being advised of a special Council meeting for the adoption of Cook Shire Council's Financial Statements in the 2025/2026 Financial Year. Under section 254C of the Local Government Regulation 2012, this meeting will occur 10 AM Thursday 15 October...

The William Daku Splash Park has reopened following this week’s contamination incident. Council's team has extensively cleaned and treated the water system, and the results of water testing confirm the park is safe to use. Thank you to the community members who helped...

Every community has people who make a difference. They lend a hand, bring people together, share their talents and give their time to the places and people they care about. The 2027 Australia Day Awards are an opportunity to celebrate those contributions. If you know...

We know families enjoy the splash park, especially during the school holidays. Unfortunately, it’s closed until further notice following a contamination incident. Our team is working as quickly as possible to clean the system and test the water. We’ll reopen the park...

Make this Christmas a little more local. Cook Shire Council is inviting local stallholders, craftspeople and artisans to be part of the Twilight Christmas Markets at Sunset with Santa, held at William Daku Park on Saturday 5 December 2026. As families gather for an...

There’s a lot you can do with a couple of hours after school. Make something. Learn something. Have a laugh. Try something new. Maybe even discover you’re surprisingly good at juggling. Play and Yarn – Activities for Kids is an eight-week after-school program coming...

Senior housing unit available at Endeavour Lodge Looking for independent senior accommodation in Cooktown? Expressions of interest are now open for one unit at Endeavour Lodge on Howard Street. Eligible Cook Shire residents are invited to register their interest by...

A planning green light for the Cooktown Hospital redevelopment, new opportunities at Cooktown Airport and upcoming school holiday activities feature in the latest Moment with the Mayor. Cook Shire Council unanimously approved the development application for the staged...

Get ready by clearing the clutter, Cook Shire! We know extreme weather does not always follow the calendar. Clearing loose and unwanted items now is a simple way to reduce potential hazards and help make homes, yards and the wider community safer. To help residents...

Technology is always changing. Just when you’ve figured something out, along comes another update, a new app or a button that’s moved somewhere else. Sound familiar? From keeping in touch with family and friends to accessing services, finding information and managing...

Our community has a story to tell, and you're invited to help paint it. This October, the community is invited to pick up a paintbrush, get creative and help bring the Ayton Community Mural to life through three community painting workshops at the Tin Shed. The...

Cooktown is getting ready to welcome the Cardiac Challenge to town on Monday 21 September, and the community is encouraged to get out and cheer on the riders as they roll in.The Cardiac Challenge will bring cyclists into Cooktown as part of the Far North Queensland...

This October, the cemetery will once again become the stage for an atmospheric journey through Cooktown’s rich and colourful history, with local stories brought to life through theatre, music and performance, and tickets are now on sale! For the third year in a row,...

Far North Queensland has no shortage of stories to tell, and this October, some of the region’s best will be screening right here in Cooktown! The 2025 Understory Film Festival finalist selection brings together 24 outstanding short films created across Far North...

Cook Shire Council is inviting the community to help shape planning for more housing and future residential growth in Cooktown, with consultation now open for the Cooktown Residential Masterplan. The project is looking at how future housing could be supported by the...

An Australian Government Mobile Service Centre Desert Rose will be visiting Cooktown soon. Australian Government Mobile Service Centres travel to rural and regional communities to provide community members with information and access to government services. They offer...

There’s a rare splash of turquoise appearing in the Cooktown Botanic Gardens this week and it is worth stopping by to see. The spectacular Jade Vine, or Strongylodon macrobotrys, has begun to flower, giving you the chance to see one of the plant world’s most striking...

For the third year in a row Box Jelly Theatre Company is returning to Cooktown with The Spirits of Cooktown, a unique community theatre experience inspired by the true stories, characters and lives connected to the Cooktown Pioneer Cemetery. This October, the cemetery...

Some of Cooktown’s littlest readers celebrated the magic of books, stories and imagination at Cooktown Library, with a special Storytime session marking Children’s Book Week. Council’s Library team hosted a free morning of hands-on activities designed to encourage...

All 120 tickets to An Evening with Dr Karl: The Science of Survival were snapped up in just two and a half hours, setting a new record as the fastest Cook Shire Council event to sell out. It turns out there are plenty of curious minds and science lovers around...

Last week, Cooktown Library turned into a mini science lab for Science Week, with children and carers joining in a science-themed First 5 Forever Storytime and an after-school activity session packed with hands-on fun. There were electronic circuits to build, magnets...