Cape York Weekly FREE – #091 | Tuesday, July 5, 2022
Editor: Matt Nicholls 0477 450 558 | editor@capeyorkweekly.com.au
CENSUS SHOWS WEIPA THRIVING
Region growth steady By MATT NICHOLLS
WEIPA is the boom town of Cape York as census figures revealed it is the highest earning community in the region and also one of the fastest growing. Overall, Cape York showed steady growth in both population and household income, although there were some exceptions, with Weipa standing out. The median household income for Weipa was $2978 per week at the time of last year’s census, well up on the state average of $1675 and national average of $1963. Cooktown’s median household income was $1215. Both Cape York towns had big increases to the median household income, with Weipa’s rising 19.5 per cent in a five-year period and Cooktown’s going up by 13.8 per cent in the same timeframe. However, Cooktown’s median
income was well below the likes of Bamaga ($1630), Coen ($1379) and Lakeland ($1640). The community with the lowest median income in Cape York was Napranum ($788), although Hope Vale ($836) and Wujal Wujal ($840) were not far behind. In terms of population growth, Mapoon continues to make large strides, with the small western Cape community almost doubling in size in the last 20 years. Although still small in stature with 432 residents, it is a massive increase from the 239 in 2001 and marks a huge 40 per cent rise in the last five years. Weipa has also spread its wings over the last two decades. In 2001, the township had 2830 residents and that had increased by 44 per cent when the census was conducted last year, with Weipa’s population now 4100. Continued – Page 9
AWARD WINNING SHOT
Aurukun man Eric Yunkaporta was the subject of a picture that won first place at the National Photographic Portrait Prize. The image, captured at last year’s Laura Dance Festival, has already been seen by thousands. Full story – Page 2
EVEN THOUGH IT’S . .. S Y A ID L O H L O O H C S IS ON THIS M P 0 .3 7 M O R F Y A D WEDNES