As part of our Year in Review series, take a look back at what made business news on the Cape in 2024.
10. Western Cape chamber targets freight help for local businesses
by Cape York Weekly
Jai Christie (president), Gemma Shaw (secretary), Luke Puglisi (vice-president) and Jay Murray (treasurer) lead the Western Cape Chamber of Commerce in 2024. Photo: Supplied.
The soaring cost of freight and what can be done to assist local businesses is front and centre for the new executive of the Western Cape Chamber of Commerce following the group’s annual general meeting.
The meeting started with the election of a new executive, with Jai Christie set to remain in the role of president in 2024.
Luke Puglisi was elected the chamber’s vice-president, with Jay Murray and Gemma Shaw filling the treasurer and secretary spots respectively.
9. Rio Tinto Weipa operations make a big comeback in 2023
by Matt Nicholls
Rio Tinto lifted production in 2023, despite a slow start to the year. Picture: Matt Nicholls.
Bauxite shipments out of Rio Tinto’s Weipa operations lifted slightly in 2023, despite a sluggish start to the year. The mining company shipped 35.12 million tonnes from Weipa last year, up from 34.52 in 2022.
8. Palmer River copper mine set for fast-tracked rejuvenation
by Cape York Weekly
The Dianne Copper Mine Project at Palmer River, south-west of Cooktown, is set to ramp back up to full operations within the next 18 months on the back of a $1.3 million funding windfall from the Queensland Government. Photo: Revolver Resources.
Revolver Resources has accelerated plans to recommission a Far North Queensland copper project after a $1.3 million injection of funds from the State Government.
The miner said the funding would assist in the development of a series of technical studies, and engineering and environmental management designs, and fast-track the project by up to six months.
7. Free NPA home energy health checks identify ways to save
by Cape York Weekly
There was plenty of interest shown in lowering home electricity costs in the Northern Peninsula Area community of Umagico when Ergon Retail and NPA Family and Community Services held a stakeholder information session. Photo: Supplied.
Residents in the Northern Peninsula Area are being encouraged to get a free home energy health check to save money with electricity costs.
Dozens of local households have already taken advantage of free home energy health checks, which are being offered as part of Ergon Energy Retail’s Powersavvy program.
6. Weipa’s only bank reaffirms commitment to Cape community
by Cape York Weekly
As the only bank in Weipa, Queensland Country Bank branch manager Luke O’Day says the community is integral to everything his team does. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
At a time when most banks are cutting services, Weipa’s Queensland Country Bank (QCB) team is demonstrating a customer-focused approach is a winning formula.
QCB was a big winner at the recent WeMoney 2024 Awards, securing bragging rights in a range of categories including Customer Owned Bank of the Year.
5. Far northern economic strategy scores gong at inaugural regional development awards
by Cape York Weekly
Western Australian Minister for Regional Development Don Punch, RDA Tropical North CEO Sonja Johnson and Deputy Chair Brett Moller, and Busselton Mayor Phill Cronin celebrate RDA Tropical North’s award win for the Tropical North Queensland Economic Development Strategy 2024-2029. Photo: Supplied.
The strategy to help drive the diversification of economic development in the northernmost part of the state has been recognised as an award winner at a ceremony in Western Australia.
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Tropical North’s Tropical North Queensland Economic Development Strategy 2024-2029 was recognised at the inaugural 2024 Regional Development Australia Awards in Busselton in the Investing in Places category, which recognises targeted and place-based investment that enables communities to thrive and adapt.
4. Diners prepare to go Out of Bounds with new Weipa menu
by Cape York Weekly
Lil McKeown and Mick Parry launched Carpentaria Golf Club’s new “old world meets new world” menu in July. Photo: Supplied.
Diners at Carpentaria Golf Club have scored a culinary ace with the venue launching its new-look menu.
The brainchild of chef Mick Parry and partner Lil McKeown, the menu features suitably named categories like Out of Bounds, Bunker Pots and On Par, and promises to provide an “old world meets new world” experience for Weipa foodies looking for the hot new place to eat.
“Everyone keeps telling us they want something different,” Parry said.
3. CEQ celebrates big year of milestones
by Cape York Weekly
The opening of the new IBIS Bamaga is one of the 2023-24 financial year highlights remote supermarket operator CEQ is celebrating. Photo: Supplied.
Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) is celebrating several significant milestones and achievements notched up during the 2023-2024 financial year the remote supermarket operator says reflect its commitment to an organisational vision of “Caring, every day, always”.
CEQ board chairperson Joann Schmider said the organisation’s commitment to supporting remote Cape York and Torres Strait communities had been evident more than ever during the previous financial year.
2. Skytrans sold to overseas aviation company
by Matt Nicholls
Skytrans CEO Alan Milne. Photo: Supplied.
The biggest airline in Cape York and the Torres Strait has been sold to a major international aviation company.
Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider with a fleet of 199 aircraft, signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire Skytrans.
1. Underground return to drive 100 local Mount Carbine tungsten jobs
by Lyndon Keane
Tungsten miner EQ Resources says more than 100 jobs could be created in Mount Carbine following the announcement the company had received a $20 million secured debt facility from the Queensland Investment Corporation. Photo: Supplied.
More than 100 jobs could be created in Mount Carbine following the announcement EQ Resources (EQR) is gearing up to recommence underground mining at its tungsten operation.
The boost to mining operations comes on the back of a $20 million secured debt facility provided by the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), with the funding to allow the purchase of new plant equipment, as well as drill testing and trial mining to explore Mount Carbine’s tungsten resources.
