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TORRES NEWS
News & events of the Kaurareg homeland of Kaiwalagal, the Torres Strait homeland, and Cape York homelands of the Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang Peoples
3 - 9 June 2013 • Thursday Island • www.torresnews.com.au • editor@torresnews.com.au • Edition No. 1068 • $2.00 inc. GST
Welcome to our home, Premier Premier Newman and his wife, Lisa, were among friends, posing for a photo with Kaurareg Nation representatives Taina Miskin, Matilda Savage, Loyla Young, Ella Miskin and Maryann Muri.
Yasi’s TI road-rage to be re-sealed [wink, wink] By COREY BOUSEN I HATE to cast doubt on the Queensland Government’s assertion that there was road damage on Thursday Island caused by Cyclone Yasi in early 2011, but if it means that we get $2.4m to spend on our local roads then let’s all wink and nod and agree that the roads on Thursday Island were torn to shreds by Yasi when it devastated communities south of Cairns, more than 1000 km away. Premier Campbell Newman, in a press conference with Torres Shire Mayor Pedro Stephen and TSIRC Fred Gela, announced $1.7 million in funding for this purpose, stating: “It is great to be able to deliver for one of the island’s major roads known locally as the ‘ring road’, which is a 4.7 kilometre loop connecting the main services on Thursday Island.
“A $1.7 million project to rehabilitate the road’s pavement will repair damage caused by Cyclone Yasi and we will also fund a $700,000 project to reseal a number of sections of the road,” Mr Newman said. “Plans for the reseal project are in the design stage and materials are being sourced locally through Torres Shire Council.” The works are expected to start by early August and will improve travelling conditions on the island’s ring road, which includes Hastings Street, Loban Road, Aplin Road, Stephen Street, Albury Parade and Douglas Street, the Premier said. The funds to repair the Cyclone Yasi damage [wink, wink] will be delivered under Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA), which is a joint Federal and State govern-
ment initiative. Under this arrangement, the Federal Government provides 75 per cent of the funding with the Queensland Government contributing 25 per cent. At the same time these w o r k s a r e u n d e r w a y, Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson announced the Queensland Government would continue to work with the Torres Strait Island Regional Council to improve transport infrastructure. “We will start drainage and road works on Hammond Island and barge ramps will also be repaired on several islands,” Mr Emerson said. “Berthing dolphins at Badu Island and Boigu Island were completed earlier this year and 10 of the outer Torres Strait islands now have these facilities to assist with the delivery of essential freight services.”
Torres Shire Mayor Pedro Stephen, Main Roads Minister Craig Emerson, Premier Newman, Member for Cook David Kempton and TSIRC Mayor Fred Gela at the press conference on 26 May. T h e p r o g r a m w i l l and Department of Local Torres Strait Regional Aube jointly funded by the Government, Community thority). Queensland Government Recovery and Resilience) Works are scheduled for (through the Department of and the Commonwealth completion by the end of Transport and Main Roads Government (through the the year.