Traditional Owners need water for Cultural Reserve

Protest planned in Cooya Beach

Jules Foxlee

Journalist

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Last updated:
Cooya Beach toilets. Picture: Linc Walker

A number of Kubirriwarra people, Traditional Owners of the Mossman-Port Douglas area, are planning to block Cooya Beach boat ramp with their vehicles this morning, Wednesday, October 16, to  protest the lack of action by Douglas Shire Council in providing water with which to maintain the Kuyu Kuyu Cultural, Environmental and Recreational Reserve.

Traditional Owner Linc Walker said water was accessed from a tap on the back of a toilet block and transmitted to the reserve via poly pipes. The pipes and tap were impacted by flooding earlier this year and the tap was removed, leaving Traditional Owners without a source of water to maintain the site.

The water tank at the toilet block. Picture: Linc Walker

A water tank is now in place, but according to Mr Walker it does not provide the amount of water the site, which includes fruit trees and traditional medicinal plants, requires.

Mr Walker said the tap was a requirement under the Native Title agreement which covers the site and had been removed without consultation.

He said he had twice communicated with Douglas Shire Council on the matter.

In correspondence sighted by Newport, Douglas Shire Council advised Mr Walker of the process the site was outside the declared service area for reticulated water and there were a number of steps he would need to undertake to reinstate the water supply to the Reserve.

First, he may have to apply to have the declared service area extended. If this step is required, and approved by Council, Mr Walker would then need to complete a Water Supply Connection application, pay the applicable fees, hire a licenced plumber to design “the water connection and subsequent water reticulation network,” obtain a state government permit for “plumbing, drainage and on-site sewerage work”, and submit these to Council for approval.

Commenting on the matter, Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said, “Council can confirm the water line to this site was cut off due to damages incurred by Cyclone Jasper.

The line has not been reconnected as the site is not in a declared service area for reticulated water. Council is supporting the site owners by providing guidance on the application process to formally request a water connection, and to ensure that a new connection meets the quality standards outlined in the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018.

Regarding the tap, Council plan to reinstate this asset in line with Plumbing and Drainage standards.”

In response, to the letter and Mayor Scomazzon’s comments Mr Walker said it was his understanding that under the Native Title agreement for the site Council was required to provide a water point (the tap) and the Native Title holders were responsible for the
transmitting the water across the site in the manner they chose as the land was not under Council jurisdiction.

Newsport is seeking clarification of the rules on water management on Native Title land. Mr Walker confirmed the protest will take place at the Cooya Beach boat ramp at 8 am on Wednesday, October 16.

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