COOK SHIRE CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
Council is working closely with local service providers to ensure the community has up to date, relevant local information around the novel coronavirus pandemic. Click here to visit our coronavirus page, which includes locally-relevant information and the latest updates, including Cape York travel restrictions and other details.
Easter public holiday hours
Please note the following Council facilities will be closed for the Easter long weekend, from Friday 10 April to Monday 13 April.
• Administration building
• Works depot
• Cooktown and Bloomfield libraries
The Cooktown Pool remains closed until further notice due to coronavirus. The Cooktown and Laura waste transfer stations will be closed on Easter Friday only, however scheduled kerbside pickups will run as normal. Please note our customer service and library facilities are closed to visitors due to the threat of coronavirus, however staff are available via phone or email from Tuesday 14 April.
Local tradesmen wanted!
If you are a local trade services provider, Council is urgently seeking hourly rate quotes for provision of services throughout Cook Shire. But hurry, RFQ 9219 closes next Wednesday 8 April at 2pm. Click here for details.
Buy Local campaign launched
Many of us are struggling right now, but there is a small choice we can all make to help support each other. Keeping your money in Cook Shire will make a difference to our local businesses. Cook Shire Council has launched a Buy Local campaign and is calling on residents to make the choice to #buylocal and support the regional economy to help keep local people in jobs. If you are a Cook Shire business and have adapted to meet the challenges of trading during the pandemic, let us know you’re open for business by emailing your changed services or sending us a Facebook message. Make sure you include your business name, contact details, hours, products on offer and anything else you'd like to share (we love images - take a snap of your products, your staff or your premises and include that too!). Council has temporarily relaxed our policies during this unprecedented crisis and will help you advertise your business through various channels, including social media. Bought a local product recently and loved it? Share a pic with us and tell us why you loved it and where you bought it from - send them in via email or Facebook. We also have a range of poster and social media banners, which we encourage everyone to share - head to our Buy Local page for more information on the campaign and to download.
Council service changes due to coronavirus
To help prevent the spread of coronavirus in Cook Shire and in line with Government rules, Council has made changes to some of our services, including closing facilities, limiting public interaction and moving other services online.
CLOSED - The Cooktown Pool is closed until further notice. Our pool staff have been redeployed in other areas of Council. The Cooktown Water Park is closed and the water has been turned off. The gym equipment on the Cooktown foreshore must not be used. All Cook Shire playgrounds are also closed.
OPEN - ONLINE/PHONE ONLY - The Cooktown and Bloomfield libraries are closed, but online services are still available. Our library staff are available to answer calls and emails, and some programs such as Interactive Storytime have moved online. Council’s main office at 10 Furneaux Street and depot office at 31 Charlotte Street are closed to visitors, but staff are still working. Please phone 4082 0500 or email with any enquiries.
NO CHANGE - Our transfer stations, landfills, remote rubbish cages and recycling skips are still available for use as normal. Scheduled kerbside waste pick ups will continue as usual. Opening hours, locations and a kerbside pick up schedule are available on our website.
