Howard Salkow

Senior Journalist

DOUGLAS  Shire Mayor Julia said she is not surprised that the giant Cook electorate will remain largely unchanged under proposed electoral boundary redistributions released on Friday.

The proposed redistributions have added speculation that a state election will be called by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this year, although Queenslanders are only expected to go to the polls in 2018.

“As we all know, the Cook electorate is incredibly diverse and covers a large area, but is relatively low in population, so I am not surprised that the draft report has recommended no change to the Cook boundaries,” Mayor Leu told Newsport.

Cook covers the vast Cape York Peninsula north of Cairns, including the resort town of Port Douglas and the Torres Strait Islands.

“The key for us, however, being at the top end of Queensland and a long way from Brisbane, is getting our voices heard and receiving the answers we want to hear.

“Within the electorate, we have an increasing close relationship with our local government authority neighbours, such as Mareeba, Wujal Wujal and Cook, and are constantly in regular contact about a range of issues, concerns and opportunities,” she said.

Mayor Leu said through the Douglas Shire Council’s membership and active participation in the Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (FNQROC) and the Regional Development Australia & Torres Strait Inc. (RDA&TS), we can develop those relationships even further with other Councils and organisations throughout Cook.