Cape York Weekly FREE – #041 | Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Editor: Matt Nicholls 0477 450 558 | editor@capeyorkweekly.com.au
NEW PONTOON GETS THE TICK Page 5
LAURA COMES TO LIFE FOR FESTIVAL Story and pictures Pages 3, 10 and 11
Lockhart River’s dance group stole the show at the 2021 Laura Quinkan Dance Festival. Picture: MATT NICHOLLS
COMING OF THE LIGHT FESTIVITIES Strait Talkin’
Bertiehaugh track a coup for locals, tourists
Loop road opened By MATT NICHOLLS
A FOUR-WHEEL drive track that connects Weipa with the Bamaga Road will be a smash hit with both locals and tourists in search of a new off-road experience. The controversial Bertiehaugh Road has only existed as a line on
the map since the Irwins took over the property in 2006, renaming it Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve. The original gazetted road that ran through the property was used by locals from Weipa, Mapoon and Napranum. The road was removed from the map and access was limited by the new owners.
However, as part of the property deal, a new road had to be created. It was drawn on a map, which was signed off by Terri Irwin. The Weipa community, with the backing of the Western Cape Chamber of Commerce, had been pushing for years for Cook Shire Council to put the track through.
However, any discussion of creating the road was met with fierce opposition from the Irwins and John Witherspoon, who leases part of the property for cattle grazing. But a team of determined locals, who asked not to be named, got the GPS coordinates from Cook Shire and went to work themselves.
WEDNESDAY FROM 7.30PM
Using buggies and four-wheel drives, they created a 60km singlelane track that runs from Stones Crossing to Bramwell Junction. The track will only be accessible for a handful of months per year because of the depth of Stones Crossing, which is also tidal. Continued – Page 2