March 2011 Update
Recent progress
In late December 2010, a Development Application was lodged with Cook Shire Council for Lot 7 Flaggy Road, Cooktown.
The Development Application is available for viewing through Council, in accordance with Council’s formal processes.
The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) encourages any public submissions to be made formally through the Council. In line with it’s legislated role, Council will assess the Development Application in accordance with the provisions of the Cook Shire Planning Scheme and the Sustainable Planning Act 2009.
Due diligence over the site has been conducted by the Queensland Government Department of Public Works with input from independent consultants. Investigations have included, for example, examination of native title and cultural heritage, flood risk, water supply and wastewater.
The detailed results of each of these investigations are included in the Development Application submitted to Council.
Site investigations
In summary, site investigations have revealed the following:
- Native title and cultural heritage – Inspection by Traditional Families indicates only minor signs of past cultural use, namely three markings on trees.
- Flooding of access roads – Both Flaggy Road and Wilton Access Roads include a number of causeways that, during heavy rains, are subject to flooding. The periods of time that the crossings are impassable can vary depending on a combination of factors including tides, together with the extent of rainfall and runoff. However, at this stage, it is considered that the levels of flooding will be manageable for the service. Adopting a cautious approach, it is proposed that the service provider will:
– assume that there will be days that the service is not accessible (as currently occurs with many residents and businesses operating in Far North Queensland) and will put in place strategies to ensure this can be managed appropriately;
– develop emergency plans to address isolation for up to one week such that the service can be self reliant for up to a week (noting that in the case of a medical emergency, the SES would be available);
– maintain cold and dry stores for up to one month for staff and residents (in the event of an extreme and unprecedented event).
- Flooding on site – Hydrological and hydraulic assessment revealed that predicted peak flood surface levels within the vicinity of the service, will not impact the building in the proposed location and will remain fully contained within the defined waterway.
- Water supply and harvesting – The site currently contains an existing artesian bore, which is proposed to be used in conjunction with rainwater harvested from the roof of the service. Modelling has been undertaken to ensure the water supply requirements of the service can be met from rainwater harvesting and bore water supply.
- Wastewater requirements – an appropriate onsite treatment system will treat wastewater to required standards.
- Power – It is proposed that connection to the supply authority grid will provide base load power supply. In order to reduce demand, alternative energy options will also be explored.
- Traffic – Negligible traffic impacts are expected given that only staff and service providers will access the site via private vehicles. Residents will be transported via buses or with staff and will not have private vehicles on the premises.
- Bushfire risk – Queensland Fire and Rescue Service’s bushfire risk mapping indicates that the site is located within a medium bushfire risk area. The proposal therefore includes, cleared buffer zones around buildings where necessary, incorporates a water storage tank dedicated to fire fighting purposes and includes access for emergency vehicles.
- The project team will continue to undertake further studies and due diligence over the coming months (including to confirm overall feasibility, costs etc) in order to satisfy DoHA and the service provider that the site meets all service delivery requirements.
Design
The Development Application also includes concept designs for the service. The facility will:
be attractive in external and internal design;
utilise low technology that is easily maintained locally without reference back to support services in Cairns. The buildings will be durable and appropriate for the climate;
reflect a normal living and community environment which has important implications for the design concept. Residents will be learning in three environments: a home like self-contained unit or pod; in work and training areas in activities such as landscaping, hospitality, market gardening, ranger work, conservation and/or education in literacy or a trade and in community areas, such as extensive outdoor living, yarning and communal spaces;
include staff areas and an on-site caretaker’s house (there will be a caretaker living on site); and
be built to appropriate building and safety standards and include disabled access and facilities.
Cooktown community
DoHA thanks local residents for their support for the service and looks forward to the outcome of Council’s consideration of the Development Application.
Local workers will have opportunities to be involved in the building of the service and ongoing positions at the service will also be advertised locally. The service will also need the assistance of local suppliers for food, cleaning, maintenance and other services.
December 2010 update
Submission of Development Application
Significant progress has been made in relation to due diligence investigations being undertaken by the Queensland Department of Public Works. Due diligence has included surveys, water supply assessment, wastewater and sewerage assessment, and examination of flooding issues.
The Department is undertaking due diligence investigations above what is required for the Cook Shire Council Development Application process to confirm the suitability of the site. The additional due diligence investigations are continuing beyond the submission of the development application to ensure that the site meets service delivery requirements.
The development application was submitted to the Cook Shire Council on 21 December 2010. It will be publicly available and public submissions will be able to be made during the Public Notification period. In line with its legislated role, the Council will assess the Development Application in accordance with the provisions of the Cook Shire Planning Scheme and the Sustainable Planning Act 2009.
Service Provider Update
Congress Community Development Education Unit (CCDEU) has established a Project Development Team for the service. Associate Professor John Pead from the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne has been appointed as the CCDEU Leader for the new service. Associate Professor Pead is a clinical specialist in trauma and substance use, and has made a significant national contribution in this field of expertise. He will be living in Cooktown and managing the new service when it commences.
CCDEU has had initial meetings with Cape York ATODS and Mental Health providers (including Queensland Health and RFDS) to scope a comprehensive Cape York drug and alcohol service, including referral pathways to and from the Cape York Wellbeing Centres and ATODS outreach services, after-care arrangements and transitional care options. CCDEU is also a member of the Cooktown and District Inter-Agency and Alcohol Reform Working Group Meeting where issues relating specifically to the Cooktown District are discussed.
CCDEU held an open information session in Cooktown for community members on 5 November 2010 which was well attended. John Pead and Oriel Murray from CCDEU were available to listen, answer questions and discuss issues. At that meeting they gained a better understanding of residents’ concerns and talked about how excited they are about leading this new Centre.
Over the coming months, CCDEU will undertake further consultation with local Cooktown service providers and community members. CCDEU will also visit Cape York communities to talk to them about this new service and to seek their support. All Cape York community leaders and service providers who are interested in new options for helping families and individuals troubled by alcohol and drug problems are welcome to attend the consultations.
At the consultation visits a brief presentation about the new service will be given. People attending will also be asked for their views about important issues that will inform the service development including eligibility, assessment and referral processes and service operations.
Further information
The development application will be available for viewing from Council Chambers. As part of the development application, a summary document about the service has been produced and will be distributed to the Cooktown community as part of future project updates.
The Department of Health and Ageing has also launched a website to provide an alternative means of accessing information about the service. The website address is:
http://capeyorkrr.govspace.gov.au.
If you have any further questions, please contact:
- Ms Kathy Brown, A/g State Manager, Department of Health and Ageing on (07) 3360 2500 or Kathy.Brown@health.gov.au.
- Associate Professor John Pead, Project Leader, Cape York Residential Rehabilitation Service, on jpead@bigpond.net.au.
Congress Community Development Education Unit
Providing the community with more information
Due diligence and development applications
Site for the Residential Rehabilitation Facility
- Contour surveys;
- Water supply (including rainwater harvesting and bore) reports;
- Wastewater and sewerage requirements;
- Geotechnical and soil investigations;
- Hydraulic and flooding assessments;
- Environmental, cultural heritage and ecological assessments;
- Bushfire risk assessments;
- Power supply requirements;
- Data and communication requirements; and
- Other investigations as required.