Jabalbina ‘training village’ proposed for Daintree farming land

Indigenous offenders entangled in the youth justice system could be ferried via barge to a remote “training village” bordered by a croc-infested river, if granted planning approval by a Far North council.

An aerial view of the proposed training village for at-risk youth on the banks of the Daintree River. Picture: Supplied

Young Indigenous offenders entangled in the youth justice system could be ferried via barge to a remote “training village” bordered by a croc-infested river under a government funded program, if granted development approval by a Far North council.

Last week Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation applied to Douglas Shire Council for a material change of use permit for Daintree River Station, currently classified as a rural zone.

A total of 12 accommodation units, an education centre, a chill-out building and various service buildings have been proposed for the site.

Map showing positioning of proposed buildings at the Daintree River site> Picture: Supplied

While some have supported an Indigenous-led solution to the youth crime crisis, other Daintree locals have labelled the training village an inappropriate development due a perceived flood risk on the site.

Jabalbina chief executive officer Josh Paterson was limited in what he could say about the proposal without the authority of the organisation’s funding body, the Department of Youth Justice.

However, he did say flood studies indicated the parcel of land earmarked for the development was well above the flood zone, which is consistent with a one-in-100 year flood modelling contained in the 175 page development application.

“Even in the last (TC Jasper) flood it was well above the zone,” he said.

“It will be good to bring more service industries into the shire considering the stress the cane industry is under, it’s a great project.”

Much of the 203.87ha lot currently used for grazing and cropping lies on a narrow peninsula created by a natural bend in the Daintree River.

The development is proposed for the northern bank of the river, opposite the Daintree Village.

The only road access to the site is a 14km trip via the Daintree Ferry, but according to the development application, program participants and staff would be taken across the river via barge from Upper Daintree Road to access the site from the west.

According to the application, Douglas Shire Council agreed in pre-lodgement advice that “no ecological assessment would be required” under the current planning scheme as the proposed works fell “outside of the mapped environmental areas”.

It’s not clear if Jabalbina plans to lease the land required at 200 Upper Daintree Road or purchase it from current owner Jade Liaison Pty Ltd, which acquired the station for $6.1m in 2022, according to property records.

In August 2024, Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation was awarded a contract to deliver an Intensive On County trial program to educate and rehabilitate young Indigenous offenders.

A funding allocation of $7m was approved by the former government between 2024 and 2026 for the trial program.

That cash will enable 50 youths per year to take part in a six-month course involving agricultural industry training while having access to health, mental health, education, skills, welfare and educational support.

The new Intensive On Country trial offers a longer period out of town to help break the cycle of youth reoffending.

It will also deliver a wider range of wraparound supports to young people and their families, to deal with issues including mental and physical health, substance misuse, and social media.

The DA stated the training village would support the delivery of the Queensland Government-funded Intensive On Country program.

While the application stated “funds have been granted for the planning, purchase and installation/construction of infrastructure”, it’s not known if delivery of the centre is included in the $7m announced last year.

Staff accommodation, the yarning circle and education centre of the proposed youth training complex. Picture: Supplied

Daintree local and operator of the Daintree River Cruise Centre, Kianna Lafferty offered in-principle support for the program and the turning around of troubled lives, but said there was local opposition to the Jabalbina proposal.

“It’s a classic no one wants it in their backyard (situation), but we do need more facilities like this,” she said.

The training village has been proposed by the Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation. Picture: Supplied

“It has to be done somewhere but is this the right place?

“And what concerns me is the logistics, and how will they get staff.

“Realistically, you will have high-needs kids, they have been ordered by the court, don’t call it a jail but it is a facility they have been remanded to.

“And if a kid has a meltdown and they jump in the river to escape and get eaten by a croc, then that’s going to be a tragic outcome.”

According to the DA, the development is proposed to occur in four stages, the first of which is envisaged to kick off by May 31, 2025.

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Originally published as Jabalbina ‘training village’ proposed for Daintree farming land