Cook Shire Council
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COUNTDOWN TO THE COOKTOWN DISCOVERY FESTIVAL 2025
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Cook Shire News

Public update on the Rail Trail Boardwalk
Cook Shire Council has temporarily closed access to the new boardwalk along the Rail Trail in the interest of public safety, as the structure has not yet received final building certification. The opening date was announced without prior consultation with Council, and...

Free disposal of broken bins at the Cooktown Waste Transfer Station
As part of the ongoing No Label, No Service Program, residents whose household wheelie bins have been identified as non-compliant or in need of replacement can dispose of them free of charge at the Cooktown Waste Transfer Station until June 30, 2025. This initiative...

Council Update: Rail Trail Boardwalk Project
Cook Shire Council acknowledges the strong community interest in the Stay Another Day Rail Trail Boardwalk project and is pleased to provide the following update. This project is a community-led initiative located on Council-managed land. The development application,...

Festival of Small Halls Returns to Cooktown – Launching the Winter Tour 2025!
The Festival of Small Halls is making its highly-anticipated return to Cooktown, and this year we have the honour of launching the Winter Tour 2025 right here on Wednesday 2 July! Following the success and community buzz of last year’s event Festival of Small Halls...
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Upcoming Events
28 Feb @ 9:00 am - 30 Jun @ 5:00 pm
How do you library? Survey
8 May @ 8:00 am - 20 Jun @ 8:00 pm
The Cooktown Post Office Busking Competition
30 May @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
2025 National Reconciliation Week in Laura
Commitment to Community
Cook Shire Services
Animals & Pets
Pets and domestic animals can be much-loved members of your household but can also…
Environment and Health
Environmental Health encompasses all aspects of the built and natural environment that can impact human health…
Council Facilities
From workshops and classes, to private weddings and corporate functions.
Cemeteries
For funeral planning information, please contact us. You can view a map of the Cooktown Cemetery here.
Disaster Management
Queensland’s disaster management features groups at the State, District and Local level.
Waste Management
Kerbside Refuse Calendar, Recycling tips, Waster Transfer Stations and more.
Biosecurity
Biosecurity is a targeted effort to prevent, control and recover from the impacts of invasive plants and animals.
Libraries
Cook Shire Council have libraries in Cooktown, Bloomfield, Lakeland, Laura and Coen.
Local Laws
Local Laws govern most of Council’s roles and responsibilities including parking, animal control, overgrown allotments and illegal camping.
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Cook Shire is the largest land area shire in Queensland. From the Bloomfield River in the south to just north of the Jardine River, it covers more than 100,000km2 and occupies 80 per cent of Cape York Peninsula.
Cook Shire is a vibrant area, from the main township of Cooktown to smaller outlying communities rich in indigenous history, agriculture, tourism and arts.