Benefits of alcohol management plan seen in Wik community

THE Cape York has finished its life as the pub with no beer and will now be turned into a cultural conservation and community activity centre.

THE landmark Three Rivers tavern at Aurukun on western Cape York has finished its life as the pub with no beer and will now be turned into a cultural conservation and community activity centre.

The local council has called for tenders to transform the disused tavern, once the town's social hub, into a multi-purpose centre, and is seeking "an innovative business person" to run it.

Aurukun is home of the Wik and Wik-Munkan people, nationally famous for their dance and art productions.

In 2009, in an effort to stamp out uncontrolled alcohol abuse and restore social order, Aurukun Council shut the tavern and introduced an alcohol-management plan in conjunction with welfare reform that included counselling and possible penalties for parents who did not send their children to school.

Traditional owner and mayor Neville Pootchemunka said yesterday the tavern had allowed space for families to restore relationships, cultural values and aspirations for employment and education.

"School attendances have improved dramatically, family members are attending school for the first time to assist with their children's education and hospital admittances are down," Mr Pootchemunka said.

"The tavern redevelopment is a fraction of wholesale changes underway in Aurukun. There is a new business precinct under construction, and a land and sea management centre being planned. The Aurukun Opportunity Hub is open for business and the full-service model, including culture domain, has improved academic achievement dramatically.

"We want our children to have the same opportunities as children in other parts of Australia," he said.