Weipa Town Authority Chair Jaime Gane (right), pictured with Kowanyama Mayor Territa Dick at last year’s Developing Northern Australia Conference in Karratha, is calling on the State Government to create a stakeholder liaison team to streamline the investment and economic development process on western Cape York. Photo: Supplied.
A dedicated team tasked with being a central point of contact for government, funding partners and those looking to invest on western Cape York could help unlock the region and secure its economic future, according to the chair of Weipa Town Authority (WTA).
As planning continues for the 2025 Western Cape Futures Symposium in May, WTA Chair Jaime Gane has mooted the concept of implementing a team that would help stakeholders – particularly business operators looking to expand or those wanting to develop new industries – navigate through the red tape and engagement hurdles that currently exist.
“In my mind, it would probably be a small team of people who had the ability to work across all levels of government and government departments, as well as liaise with the private sector, regional bodies and potential investors to be the single point of contact for all entities who are interested in the economic development of the region,” she explained.
“A team that can co-ordinate all of the work that is being done to progress the future of the region.”
Ms Gane said she believed a lack of stakeholder communication and collaboration had led to development “silos” being created, a scenario that could be overcome with the introduction of a western Cape York government liaison team.
“At the moment, there is a lot of work being done in silos on the future of Weipa and the western Cape, and without a single point of co-ordination for all of that work, we waste valuable time, money and resources redoing reports and studies which have likely already been done,” she said, adding the concept had the potential to benefit the rest of Cape York and the Torres Strait.
“It’s a role that absolutely could benefit the broader region as well; we all face many of the same issues and challenges in respect to economic development,” she said.
The concept has received the support of Cook MP David Kempton, who said he believed locally-driven solutions were the key to driving remote economic development opportunities.
“I’d certainly encourage that,” he told Cape York Weekly when asked whether he thought the concept had merit.
“I think that’s where the genesis should be from, the local area, and opportunities that arise, rather than waiting for something to happen for someone.
“I absolutely, absolutely support that.”
Several business owners Cape York Weekly spoke also supported the plan, with one, who asked not to be named, suggesting it would “open the floodgate” for new investment.
“Something like that’d be such a help,” they said.
“We’re looking to expand and I know a few more guys who are looking to come up here, but the moment you start talking government and grants and jumping through all the hoops, you tend to just shake your head and put it in the too hard basket.”
When asked about who she believed should foot the bill for the liaison team, Ms Gane ruled out a public-private funding agreement between the State Government and Rio Tinto.
“I think it should be the job of government to fund this,” she said.
“It’s not Rio Tinto’s responsibility to fund a role dedicated to the economic development of a region, and ensure the security and sustainability of services – that’s the job of government.
“Perhaps the State Government could allocate some of the mining royalties they receive from our region back into the communities it comes from.”
