REMOTE communities in Cape York and the Gulf are now relying on aerial food supply drops as the wet season takes a grip on the Far North.
Doomadgee received a drop from Skytrans on the weekend, while Coen is preparing to get a re-supply today from Daintree Air.
Cook Shire Council has been coordinating the Coen drop in partnership with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, local businesses and wholesale suppliers.
Weather permitting, Daintree Air will today make delivery of essential supplies to the land-locked Coen, Cook Shire’s second largest town.
“Every year seasonal rains, flooding rivers and dangerous road conditions cause a large section of the Peninsular Developmental Road to close for weeks at a time,” mayor Peter Scott said.
“This prevents many regional and remote communities across the Cape from obtaining essential supplies through traditional road transport routes.
Daintree Air will be able to transport more than five tonnes of day-to-day provisions, including dry store grocery staples, fresh produce, mail and other essential supplies from Cairns.
Cr Scott said coordinated resupplies provided isolated individuals and communities with essential goods needed for survival.
Under Queensland Disaster Management arrangements, the state government pays the additional transport costs to deliver them.
Cr Scott reminded community members across the Cape that it was important to be self-sufficient and not to become reliant on resupply operations.
“Preparation is paramount. We urge households to plan ahead and get ready,” he said.
“You need at least five days of supplies to see you through, so there is absolutely no need to panic buy.”
