Way Cleared For Multi-Purpose Community Centre At Cooktown

Airservices Australia has been completed the relocation of its navigation aid facility at Cooktown, paving the way for construction to start on the region's new multipurpose community centre.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the project has received strong support from the Cooktown community, with the centre expected to provide locals with a number of important services and benefits.

"As well as becoming a focal point for community activities, the new centre will also serve as an evacuation point in the event of natural disasters such as cyclones," said Mr Albanese.

"The Government has been working with the Council and Airservices to get this project off the ground and it's satisfying to know the centre is now closer to becoming a reality."

The Rudd Labor Government has at this stage committed $3 million towards Airservices's relocation costs and construction of the Cooktown Events Centre, with $1.5 million committed in the lead up to the last election and a further $1.5 million awarded under the Jobs Fund.

Cook Shire Council has secured State Government funding of $3 million.

Leichhardt MP Jim Turnour said "The Cooktown Events Centre project has been a priority for the community for many years. I am proud that that the Rudd Government is making such a substantial contribution to the project and that it can now be built at the site the community wants."

"The commitment to build an events centre for Cooktown had been made by all levels of government however the land on which the local community wanted the centre to be built has been an ongoing hurdle which has prevented the project from progressing further."

"I have been working with a number of federal Ministers on this issue since being elected and I am very pleased the Airservices Australia matter has been resolved and we've now got the green light to move ahead on the preferred site."

"I want to thank the Minister Albanese and Airservices Australia who've had big hand in making this happen."

"This is a great collaborative effort and I look forward to seeing the bricks and mortar of what will be a great facility for Cooktown," Mr Turnour said.