Northern Peninsula Area Region

Northern Peninsula Area Region
Queensland
One bend from Jardine River Ferry crossing - the entrance to the Northern Peninsula Area
Population2,781 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density2.6435/km2 (6.847/sq mi)
Established2008
Area1,052 km2 (406.2 sq mi)[2]
MayorPatricia Yusia
Council seatBamaga
RegionFar North Queensland
State electorate(s)Cook
Federal division(s)Leichhardt
WebsiteNorthern Peninsula Area Region
LGAs around Northern Peninsula Area Region:
Torres Torres Coral Sea
Gulf of Carpentaria Northern Peninsula Area Region Coral Sea
Cook

The Northern Peninsula Area Region is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia, covering areas on the northwestern coast of Cape York Peninsula. It was created in March 2008 out of three Aboriginal Shires and two autonomous Island Councils during a period of statewide local government reform.

In the 2021 census, the Northern Peninsula Area Region had a population of 2,781 people.[1]

History

Luthigh (also known as Lotiga, Tepiti and Uradhi, see also Uradhi related languages) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Luthigh people. The traditional language area for Luthigh includes landscape within the local government boundaries of the Cook Shire: Eastern Cape York, Ducie River, Northern Peninsula, New Mapoon, Injinoo, and Cowal Creek.[3]

Uradhi (also known as Anggamudi, Ankamuti, Atampaya, Bawtjathi, and Lotiga) is an Australian Aboriginal language of the Western Cape York Peninsula. The traditional language region includes north of Mapoon and Duyfken Point and east of the coast strip to the north of Port Musgrave (Angkamuthi country) incorporating the mouth of the Ducie River, the lower reaches of the Dulhunty River and the upper reaches of the Skardon River in the north. Following the displacement of Indigenous people by British settlement, it was also spoken in the Northern Peninsula Area Region including the communities of New Mapoon, Injinoo and Cowal Creek.[4]

The Region was created on 15 March 2008 from five previous entities—the Bamaga and Seisia Island Councils, and the Injinoo, New Mapoon and Umagico Aboriginal Councils. Its first election was held on the same day.

In 1984, the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act and Community Services (Aborigines) Act were enacted by the Queensland Government, allowing community councils to be created to own and administer former reserves or missions under a Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT).[5] Each was responsible for local basic utilities and services such as electricity, housing and management of local CDEP programs. They also worked with the Queensland Police to provide for community police officers—hence extending well beyond the normal functions of local government.[6] The Local Government (Community Government Areas) Act 2004 extended to community councils many of the provisions and benefits of the Local Government Act 1993 normally enjoyed by shire councils.

In 2006, the councils were involved in a consultation process which resulted in a Green Paper being produced. The State Government subsequently took over the process, and in April 2007, a White Paper entitled "Community Government in the Torres Strait: the way forward" was released, recommending both governance and structural changes to ensure the sustainability of governance in the region. The White Paper expressed concerns about workload and capacity to meet community needs, deficiencies in corporate governance and accountability and other challenges and issues. The Local Government Reform report in July 2007 recommended the creation of the Northern Peninsula Area council as well as the Torres Strait Island Region council to attempt to address these issues. The Queensland Government responded by proposing the Local Government and Other Legislation (Indigenous Regional Councils) Amendment Bill 2007 to bring the two new councils into line with the recommendations of both reports.[7]

Because of the unique structure of the DOGIT areas, where a community owned the land and the council represented the community owners, concerns were raised by the councils about ownership potentially transferring to the new entities and diluting their title over it. Some councils responded by creating a private company with all community members as shareholders, and transferring the ownership to the company. This was opposed by the State Government who threatened to take legal action against the communities.

Following the elections, the Department of Local Government provided $675,000 to the Regional Council to assist with expenses relating to the post-amalgamation transfer process.[8]

Gudang (Gootung) is one of the languages of the tip of Cape York. The Gudang language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council, particularly the localities of Somerset, Albany Island and Newcastle Bay extending north to the Tip.[9]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the Northern Peninsula Area Region had a population of 2,796 people.[10]

In the 2021 census, the Northern Peninsula Area Region had a population of 2,781 people.[1]

Structure

The council consists of five divisions, each of which represents one of the former entities and elects one councillor, with a mayor being elected by the entire region. At the 2008 election, the following councillors were elected:[11][12]

  • Mayor – Joseph Elu
  • Division 1 (Injinoo) – Gina Nona
  • Division 2 (Umagico) – Peter Lui
  • Division 3 (Bamaga) – Reg Williams
  • Division 4 (New Mapoon) – Michael Bond
  • Division 5 (Seisia) – Jeffrey Aniba

The 2012 local government elections saw a completely new set of councillors elected. All sitting councillors who recontested their seats - the Mayor and Councillors from Division 1, 3 and 4 - were defeated. The following councillors were elected:[13][14]

  • Mayor – Bernard Charlie
  • Division 1 (Injinoo) – Anthony Mara
  • Division 2 (Umagico) – Dennis Gatawan (unopposed)
  • Division 3 (Bamaga) – Edward Newman
  • Division 4 (New Mapoon) – Trevor Lifu
  • Division 5 (Seisia) – Benjamin Gebadi

Mayors

  • 2008–2012: Joseph Benjamin Elu[15]
  • 2012–2016: Bernard Charlie[16]
  • 2016–2020: Eddie Newman[17]
  • 2020–present: Patricia Yusia[18]

Towns and localities

The Northern Peninsula Area Region includes the following settlements and their populations:

Language

Yumplatok (also known as Torres Strait Creole and Broken) is a contemporary Torres Strait Island language spoken in the Torres Strait. The contact with missionaries and others since the 1800s has led to the development of a pidgin language, which transitioned into a creole language and now has its own distinctive sound system, grammar, vocabulary, usage and meaning. Torres Strait Creole is spoken by most Torres Strait Islanders and is a mixture of Standard Australian English and traditional languages. It is an English-based creole; however, each island has its own version of creole. Torres Strait Creole is also spoken on the Australian mainland, including Northern Peninsula Area Region and coastal communities such as Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Brisbane.[25]

Libraries

The Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council operate Indigenous Knowledge Centres at Bamaga, Injinoo, New Mapoon, Seisia and Umagico.[26]

Seisia Indigenous Knowledge Centre (IKC) opened on 2 September 2005, a time when IKCs across the state began embracing innovative technology-based literacy programs. Programs included Have you Heard, a listening station for audiobooks that could accommodate multiple users at one time, and I Can Sing, I Can Read, a program harnessing the fun and popularity of karaoke. Establishing the IKC while technology-based programs were flourishing had a lasting impact. Today, Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council positions the IKC as a technology hub for the region. This evolution was no accident and is thanks to the passion of successive IKC staff advocating for the digital needs of Seisia residents.[27]

References

  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Northern Peninsula Area Region (LGA)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Luthigh". State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. ^ This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Uradhi". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  5. ^ Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (23 February 2008). "Land Rights". Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  6. ^ Kaye, Stuart (1997). The Torres Strait. Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. pp. 12–15. ISBN 90-411-0506-9.
  7. ^ State of Queensland (2007). "Local Government and Other Legislation (Indigenous Regional Councils) Amendment Bill 2007". Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  8. ^ Minister for Main Roads and Local Government (27 March 2008). "Media Statement - State funding to ease transition for far north Queensland councils: Pitt". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  9. ^ This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Gudang". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  10. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Northern Peninsula Area Region (LGA)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  11. ^ Electoral Commission Queensland (28 March 2008). "2008 Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council - Councillor Election - Election Summary". Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  12. ^ "Mayoral election time". Torres News. 29 February 2008. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  13. ^ Electoral Commission Queensland (28 April 2012). "2012 Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Archived from the original on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  14. ^ Electoral Commission Queensland (28 April 2012). "2012 Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council - Councillor Elections - Election Summary". Archived from the original on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  15. ^ "2008 Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  16. ^ "2012 Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  17. ^ "2016 Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  18. ^ "2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.[dead link‍]
  19. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bamaga (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 29 August 2019. Edit this at Wikidata
  20. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Injinoo (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  21. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "New Mapoon". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 3 July 2017. Edit this at Wikidata
  22. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Seisia (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  23. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Somerset (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  24. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Umagico (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  25. ^ This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Yupanguthi". Queensland's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  26. ^ "Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 20 September 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  27. ^ This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Seisia IKC: technology hub (2 September 2022) by Indigenous services published by the State Library of Queensland under CC BY licence, accessed on 18 January 2023.

10°53′16″S 142°23′16″E / 10.88778°S 142.38778°E / -10.88778; 142.38778