CYPDA advocates both ecological and economically sustainable development [ESD] in Cape York Peninsula. The Association works closely and actively with Government agencies, joint partners and local businesses and representative groups on behalf of all residents of the peninsula to achieve a wide but targeted range of economic aspirations.
Along with CYPDA a number of other organisations are working with Cape York residents and business owners to assist economic development on the peninsula; these include:
Advance Cairns
A peak economic development agency for Far North Queensland Advance Cairns promotes growth and business development in the Far North Queensland region.
www.advancecairns.com
Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation
Balkanu is committed to supporting the Aboriginal people of Cape York through initiatives which deliver positive outcomes for the economy, society and culture of region.
www.balkanu.com.au
Cape York Digital Network (CYDN)
Conceived in 1998, the focus of CYDN is to promote economic, social and employment development in Cape York through the establishment of information and technology centres. CYDN centres are located at most Cape York communities as well as Cairns.
www.cydn.com.au
Chambers of Commerce
Cooktown Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 960 Cooktown. Qld. 4895, Telephone: 40695381 Fax: 406905385
Email: cooktowntourism@fni.aunz.com
Weipa Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 522 Weipa. Qld. 4874, Telephone: 40697877 Fax: 40697909
Far North Queensland Area Consultative Committee
Works with not-for-profit organisations, Australian and State Government agencies, local governments, business groups and individual businesses, to support regional economic development and sustainable employment.
www.fnqacc.com
Register of Aboriginal Corporations
An independent statutory office holder who administers the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976. This Act guides how Indigenous corporations are run. The Office of the Registrar of Aboriginal Corporations (ORAC) supports and regulates the corporations that are incorporated under the Act. It does this in a variety of ways, for example, by advising them on how to incorporate, by training board members and key staff in good corporate governance, by making sure they comply with the law and intervening when needed.
www.orac.gov.au
Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships
A not for profit organisation which channels corporate and philanthropic resources into Indigenous development. The organisation works with Indigenous leaders and their organisations in the Cape York Peninsula and the Goulburn/Murray region in Victoria.
www.iep.net.au
Cape York Partnerships
The Queensland Government Cape York Partnerships initiative seeks to encourage and support partnerships leading to increased infrastructure and service development that is regionally and locally relevant and appropriate. Cape York Partnerships (CYP) is a community development organisation formed in 1999 through an agreement between the Queensland Government and regional Indigenous organisations.
www.capeyorkpartnerships.com
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
The Australian Government department has the dual roles of providing customer services to the agricultural, food, fisheries and forest industries, and addressing the challenges of natural resource management.
www.daff.gov.au
Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries assists Queensland food and fibre industries to increase productivity, sustainability, market growth and adaptability.
www.dpi.qld.gov.au
Tourism, Regional Development & Industry
The Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry works to capitalise on Queensland's advantages to grow regional economies and strengthen industries.
The Department delivers a range of services to achieve regional economic growth, transform and build up industries, and to assist business owners improve their operational and management skills.
The Department works closely with key regional economic development stakeholders, industries, businesses, research organisations and universities, and government bodies to achieve the best outcomes for the State.
www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au
Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA)
An Australian Government body that aims to strengthen the economic, social and cultural development of the Torres Strait to improve the lifestyle and wellbeing of Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal people living in the region.
www.tsra.gov.au/www/index.cfm
Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC)
The ILC assists Indigenous Australians to acquire land and manage Indigenous-held land sustainably, to provide cultural, social, economic or environmental benefits for themselves and future generations.
www.ilc.gov.au/site/page.cfm
First Australians Business
www.firstaustralians.org.au
Department of Immigration Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
www.immi.gov.au
Government Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
www.tsra.gov.au
Indigenous Business Australia
www.iba.gov.au
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)
www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Individual
Queensland Government Information services for Indigenous people
www.qld.gov.au/indigenous
IndigOz - Indigenous Australian Internet portal
www.indigoz.com.au
Koori Community: Business, Culture, and Service groups
www.eurobodallabiz.com.au/koori.htm
On-line Indigenous Business and Community Services Directory
www.blackpages.com.au
CYPDA acknowledges that the main economic development issues reveal the need for:
Additionally, in Stage 2 of Cape York Peninsula Land Use Strategy (CYPLUS) it was decided that future decision-making should recognise the direct and indirect economic contribution attributable to protected areas in terms of:
CYPDA recognises that sustainable regional development is contingent upon:
Cape York Peninsula is facing significant challenges in securing its economic and environmental future. The implications of Queensland State Government Wild Rivers Legislation and the move towards Cape York’s listing as a World Heritage Area will have significant influence on Cape York’s future.
Cape York Peninsula Land Use Strategy
www.environment.gov.au/erin/cyplus
Cape York Heads of Agreement
The Cape York Heads of Agreement is an agreement designed to ensure coexistence on Cape York and joint protection of the environment. This landmark agreement was first signed by the Cattlemen's Union (CU), the Wilderness Society (TWS), the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), the Cape York Land Council (CYLC) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peninsula Regional Council on the 5 February 1996. It is an agreement designed to protect cultural heritage and environmental values while also providing for greater certainty and more effective management of the pastoral industry. The original agreement was revisited in September 2001 and has seen the State of Queensland join the agreement. An important element of the agreement is to establish a mechanism, including a ‘Ministerial Implementation Committee’, that will translate long-held aspirations for Cape York Peninsula into action.
Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements Project
www.atns.net.au/agreement.asp?EntityID=472
The distinctive features of the economy of Cape York Peninsula are that:
The distinctive features of the economy of Cape York Peninsula are that:
CYPDA has formed successful collaborative associations with a number of agencies which deal with complex issues relevant to Cape York. These include;
CYPDA aims to influence policy-making and decision-making on matters relevant to Cape York Peninsula.
The Association's Directors and nominated representatives continue to be appointed to various committees where they can provide a Cape York Peninsula perspective on issues that are subject to policy decision-making, especially government policy decision-making.
Committee members, members and their representatives are active participants in the following groups and associations important to the economical future of Cape York Peninsula:
Gross Regional Product (GRP) per head of population was used during CYPLUS Stage 1 to provide an overview of the relative contributions made by each industry sector to the economy of Cape York Peninsula. These investigations showed that the economy of Cape York Peninsula is predominantly based upon:
CYPLUS also noted that these two industry sectors, with the possible addition of nature-based tourism, are likely to continue to underpin the regional economy in the foreseeable future.
When compared to the Queensland economy as a whole, it is apparent the Cape York Peninsula regional economy is narrowly-based. The sectors of the economy which are least developed are:
However, the CYPLUS investigations have also confirmed the important contributions to GRP made by traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander activities such as fishing, hunting and gathering for food product, the use of local resources for the construction of shelters and tools, and traditional medicinal resources.
CYPLUS
www.environment.gov.au/erin/cyplus/index.html
Aboriginal art is now an internationally acclaimed and sought commodity. Resale prices have headed into the millions, as one recent Sotheby's group sale of $3.9 million attests.
Young Cape York artists such as Lisa Michl and the members of the Lockhart River Art Gang are advancing the international awareness of Aboriginal Art on as led by elder Hopevale artists Roy McIvor and Walter Jack and other Cape York artists.
UMI Arts
A new organisation based in Cairns to support indigenous artists and craftspeople in far north and west Queensland.
www.umiarts.com.au
Quinkan and Regional Cultural Centre
The cultural centre has a select range of regional Aboriginal arts and crafts available for sale.
www.quinkancc.com.au
Lockhart River Art and Culture Centre
Lockhart River is famous for the young and energetic group of artists who work at the Lockhart River Art and Culture Centre.
www.artgang.com.au
Gab Titui Cultural Centre, Thursday Island
www.tsra.gov.au
Nature’s Powerhouse, Cooktown
www.cook.qld.gov.au
Aboriginal Art Online
www.aboriginalartonline.com
Agriculture and fishing together contribute 5.4% of GRP on Cape York Peninsula and employ 6% of the workforce with coffee, bananas and tropical fruits only a few of the Cape’s regular crops.
Agriculture Gateway
www.agriculture.gov.au
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
www.daff.gov.au
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
www.dpi.qld.gov.au
Farm BIS
www.farmbis.gov.au
Farm Help
www.daff.gov.au/farmhelp
Indigenous People in Rural Industries Program
www.daff.gov.au/indigenous
National Food Industry Strategy
www.nfis.com.au
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
www.rirdc.gov.au
CYPDA assists industry in maintaining access to commercial fisheries and seeks improved indigenous access to commercial fisheries and continued access for traditional purposes. The Association encourages projects that promote and manage recreational
fishing.
Aquaculture is an emerging priority use for Queensland's coastal areas with many small indigenous fisheries and aquaculture projects at various stages of development throughout Cape York, including training in mud crab and barramundi fishing, processing, marketing and business management with a view to Indigenous business ownership.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
www.daff.gov.au
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
www.dpi.qld.gov.au
Mining for gold brought European settlement to Cape York in the 1870s, while today bauxite mining and other mineral deposits have added significantly to the economy with the Peninsula now dominated by the industry. Mining contributes more than half of the Gross Regional Product (GRP), employs 12% of the workforce (10 times the national level), and occupies 4.5% of the area.
Bauxite mining at Weipa
There are extensive deposits of bauxite along the west coast of Cape York and the Gulf of Carpentaria coast. Weipa is the centre for this mining activity which began in the early 1960s. Production levels have increased and associated activities have continued sustaining a population of about 2,000. Current production is around 12 million tonnes annually.
Comalco
www.comalco.com
Further mineral deposits
Extensive mineral deposits such as copper, zinc, gold, tin, silver and gemstones are found across Cape York.
Matilda Minerals
www.matildaminerals.com/siteContent/capeyork.htm
Export of silica-sands
Silica-sand deposits at Cape Flattery are rated as world-class and are the basis of a major export market.
Fact sheet: Mining in Queensland
www.nrw.qld.gov.au/factsheets/pdf/mines/m1.pdf
More than 150 years ago, non-indigenous settlers established the first of many cattle stations, which has seen the pastoral industry become a significant player in Cape York Peninsula’s economy with cattle grazing being the dominant land use (57%).
Property planning
Property plans are used by landholders to document property resources and management practices, and to design property changes.Property plans may be voluntary, a regulatory requirement, or needed to support an application for financial assistance.
www.nrw.qld.gov.au/land/management/property_planning.html
National Farmers' Federation (NFF)
www.nff.org.au
Elders News
livestock.elders.com.au/news.asp
Tourism is already a significant driver of growth in the regional economy, with tremendous potential for more. Visitor numbers per annum to Cooktown and the lower Cape York Peninsula are now 60,000 while 20,000 tourists venture to the top of the Peninsula exploring Cape York on the way. Tourism offers real competitive advantage for the region, presenting a wealth of future opportunities, especially in Indigenous, ecotourism and adventure activities.
Tropical Tourism North Queensland
www.tropicalaustralia.com.au