| Northern Peninsula Area Region Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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 One bend from Jardine River Ferry crossing - the entrance to the Northern Peninsula Area | |||||||||||||||
| Population | 2,781 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 2.6435/km2 (6.847/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 2008 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 1,052 km2 (406.2 sq mi)[2] | ||||||||||||||
| Mayor | Patricia Yusia | ||||||||||||||
| Council seat | Bamaga | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Far North Queensland | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Cook | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Leichhardt | ||||||||||||||
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| Website | Northern Peninsula Area Region | ||||||||||||||
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TheNorthern Peninsula Area Region is alocal government area inFar North Queensland,Australia, covering areas on the northwestern coast ofCape 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 the2021 census, the Northern Peninsula Area Region had a population of 2,781 people.[1]
Luthigh (also known asLotiga,Tepiti andUradhi, see alsoUradhi related languages) is anAustralian Aboriginal language spoken by the Luthigh people. The traditional language area for Luthigh includes landscape within the local government boundaries of theCook Shire: EasternCape York,Ducie River, Northern Peninsula,New Mapoon,Injinoo, andCowal Creek.[3]
Uradhi (also known asAnggamudi,Ankamuti,Atampaya,Bawtjathi, andLotiga) is an Australian Aboriginal language of theWestern Cape York Peninsula. The traditional language region includes north ofMapoon andDuyfken Point and east of the coast strip to the north of Port Musgrave (Angkamuthi country) incorporating the mouth of theDucie 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 ofNew Mapoon,Injinoo andCowal 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.[5]
In 1984, theCommunity Services (Torres Strait) Act andCommunity Services (Aborigines) Act were enacted by the Queensland Government, allowing community councils to be created to own and administer former reserves or missions under aDeed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT).[6] 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.[7] TheLocal Government (Community Government Areas) Act 2004 extended to community councils many of the provisions and benefits of theLocal 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 theTorres Strait Island Region council to attempt to address these issues. The Queensland Government responded by proposing theLocal Government and Other Legislation (Indigenous Regional Councils) Amendment Bill 2007 to bring the two new councils into line with the recommendations of both reports.[8]
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.[9]
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 ofSomerset,Albany Island and Newcastle Bay extending north to the Tip.[10]
In the2016 census, the Northern Peninsula Area Region had a population of 2,796 people.[11]
In the2021 census, the Northern Peninsula Area Region had a population of 2,781 people.[1]
 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2020) |
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:[12][13]
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:[14][15]
The Northern Peninsula Area Region includes the following settlements and their populations:
Yumplatok (also known as Torres Strait Creole and Broken) is a contemporaryTorres Strait Island language spoken in theTorres Strait. The contact with missionaries and others since the 1800s has led to the development of apidgin language, which transitioned into acreole 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 ofStandard 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 theAustralian mainland, including Northern Peninsula Area Region and coastal communities such asCairns,Townsville,Mackay,Rockhampton andBrisbane.[26]
The Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council operateIndigenous Knowledge Centres atBamaga,Injinoo,New Mapoon,Seisia andUmagico.[27]
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 includedHave you Heard, a listening station for audiobooks that could accommodate multiple users at one time, andI 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.[28]
This Wikipedia article incorporatesCC BY 4.0licensed text from:"Uradhi".Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map.State Library of Queensland. Retrieved5 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) This Wikipedia article incorporatesCC BY 4.0licensed text from:"Gudang".Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map.State Library of Queensland. Retrieved21 January 2020. This Wikipedia article incorporatesCC BY 4.0licensed text from:"Yupanguthi".Queensland's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages map.State Library of Queensland. Retrieved28 January 2020. This Wikipedia article incorporates text fromSeisia IKC: technology hub (2 September 2022) by Indigenous services published by theState Library of Queensland underCC BYlicence, accessed on 18 January 2023.10°53′16″S142°23′16″E / 10.88778°S 142.38778°E /-10.88778; 142.38778