Administrator of Christmas
and Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Community Newsletter
Issue 29 – 1 October 2021
In this issue:
Welcome message
Latest News
- Ethel Beach Boat Ramp upgrades
- Local Government elections – WA Electoral Commission services and IOT visits
- 90% COVID-19 vaccination rate for IOT
- Delivering on COVID economic stimulus projects
- NRL visit to Indian Ocean Territories
Welcome Message
Welcome to the latest edition of my newsletter. I would like to say a special thank you to Aaron O’Neill for stepping into the role of acting Administrator while I was on leave.
It’s an annual calendar highlight for Christmas Islanders this week, with a packed schedule of events for the 63rd annual Territory Week. I hope as many of you as possible get involved in the activities including Cove Day on 4 October, with the ever-popular Cove swim, fishing competition and raft regatta. It’s a wonderful time for the community, family, friends and visitors to come together and celebrate our unique home and way of life.
I am delighted with the progress of our roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine program across CI and CKI, with more than 90 per cent of eligible IOT residents now having received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. I congratulate the communities for stepping up to get vaccinated to help keep ourselves, our families and our islands safe during the pandemic, and look forward to when the overwhelming majority of residents are fully vaccinated over the coming week.
While our vaccination roll-out has been ongoing, we have also been hard at work delivering our infrastructure programs to keep our economy ticking over during this period. We are now turning our minds to the future and the pathway out of the pandemic.
We are already seeing real progress on a number of significant projects across CI and CKI, including those announced in the 2020 and 2021 Federal Budgets as well as the COVID-19 stimulus projects, which will not only meet the long-term needs of residents but also enhance visitor experiences to the IOT.
These past months have demonstrated what can be achieved when we work together to deliver the best outcome for our community. The COVID-19 vaccination roll-out has been successful, and the stimulus projects funded by the Australian Government are either delivered, or will be delivered in the foreseeable future. This new infrastructure is designed to be used by the community and tourists alike as we come out of the pandemic and look to the future.
I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in ensuring that our communities have had access to the information provided during recent visits of the Western Australian Electoral Commission, and the Western Australian National Rugby League.
We also say a temporary farewell to Belinda Van Zundert this week from the Office of the Administrator as she commences her parental leave. We wish her all the best for the coming months and look forward to Belinda’s return next year!
If you would like to find out more about anything in the newsletter or you would like a hardcopy, please contact my office. Let us know if you want to include your upcoming community event or activity in the newsletter. Stories (including photos) about recent IOT community events are very welcome and can be emailed to iotadministrator@infrastructure.gov.au.
Mrs Natasha Griggs
Administrator of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Latest News
Ethel Beach Boat Ramp upgrades
Recognising the importance of fit-for-purpose infrastructure to the community, the Australian Government through the Department of Defence is committing more than $400,000 to upgrade the boat ramp at Ethel Beach for both government and community use in this financial year.
As a prime example of the extraordinary coastal environment of Christmas Island, Ethel Beach is a popular destination for both tourists and locals, with the boat ramp an important access point for vessels entering the waters and an alternative to the main ramp at Flying Fish Cove.
The upgrades to the Ethel Beach boat ramp will help ensure better and safer water access for vessels during challenging sea conditions, both for recreational users and government vessels.
The upgrades include replacing the concrete panels at each end of the ramp as well as cleaning and applying a non-slip resin on a number of panels, with the safety of ramp users remaining a key priority.
On behalf of the Government and local community, I thank Defence for their support for the maintenance and improvement of this important asset.
Local Government elections – WA Electoral Commission services and IOT visits
The Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) is now able to provide local government election and education services to Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
The WAEC services, through a Service Delivery Arrangement, commenced from 1 July 2021.
The WAEC will be able to provide returning officer services for local government elections, when an absolute majority decision of the elected council has been made regarding their appointment.
The Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands has appointed the WAEC to conduct their 16 October 2021 election. A WAEC representative will be on-island during the Councilor nomination period and also the election.
The WAEC offered the services of a returning officer to both Shires. The Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands has accepted a WAEC returning officer to conduct their election. The Shire of Christmas Island has appointed their Chief Executive Officer as the returning officer.
The WAEC, in conjunction with the Office of Multicultural Interests (which is also a new service provider), visited both islands in late August 2021, providing community education services on the Federal and local government democratic processes.
90% COVID-19 vaccination rate for IOT
A big thank you to all Indian Ocean Territories (IOT) residents who have rolled up your sleeves to get their COVID-19 vaccination.
Because of your dedication to keeping yourselves, your families and communities safe, we have a vaccination rate of 90% for the first dose of Pfizer across the Christmas Island (CI) and Cocos (Keeling) Island communities, and anticipate similar rates for the second dose by the end of September, when the current vaccination program concludes.
Already, more than 1050 people on CI and 425 on CKI have received both doses. With vaccinations now open to 12-15 year olds, we hope that as many eligible community members as possible get vaccinated, as it remains our best defence against getting seriously sick with COVID-19.
I would once again like to ask all businesses and employers across the IOT to both encourage and support your staff to get vaccinated, as it will not only maximise the protection of our community, but is the best way to ensure our economy recovers through the pandemic.
While border restrictions remain in place for the IOT for jurisdictions of concern, it is vital that we remain vigilant to the potential threat COVID-19 poses to the most vulnerable in our community.
We recently conducted a COVID-19 planning exercise with Western Australian Health Authorities to strengthen, refine and test our response capabilities in the event of a COVID-19 case in the IOT, ensuring that we are keeping the community safe during these challenging times.
In the meantime I ask all of you, even if you have been vaccinated, to continue following public health guidelines, including practising good hygiene, staying home if unwell, getting tested if you have any COVID-19 related symptoms and keeping up to date with the latest Public Health Directions.
Delivering on COVID economic stimulus projects
Progress is continuing on a number of the COVID-19 economic stimulus projects across the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT), including the refurbishment and expansion of the Home Island retail area in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (CKI), and the Territory Day Park Nature Trail Loop infrastructure upgrade on Christmas Island (CI).
The Australian Government committed some $1.1 million to the renovation of the Home Island retail area, with the Shire of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (SoCKI) contributing a further $550,000 to ensure the new retail precinct best meets the current and future needs of tourists and residents on Home Island.
The upgrades to the retail precinct will not only ensure that the buildings will meet current Australian Standards, but will provide additional retail space for new services and retailers, with likely new business opportunities for a laundromat, bakery and a small hairdresser/beautician. It also supports work for local contractors, and future opportunities for business expansion for Cocos.
On CI, the Territory Day Park Nature Trail is now open for use, with improved safety and amenity for visitors.
Upgrades to the trail include new, non-slip surfaces and handrails to replace the uneven concrete steps and old timber boardwalks that had been previously prone to rusting, breaking and becoming a trip hazard.
NRL visit to Indian Ocean Territories
National Rugby League (NRL) WA’s Angus Street recently provided rugby sport engagement and development activities to CI and CKI.
It is encouraging to see that the number of accredited NRL coaches has increased on both islands.
On CI, two community coaching courses were delivered to the CI Robbers Rugby League Club (RLC) volunteers. A junior ‘Come and Try’ day was hosted in conjunction with the CI Robbers RLC, and after‑school sessions were also delivered.
Every student at CKI district high school received introductory rugby league sessions and the CKI Hunters RLC volunteers were provided two community coaching courses.
On both islands, training sessions were provided for the Junior Rugby League players in preparation for their Under 16s team travelling to Perth in October for the Harmony Cup. I wish the team every success in this competition and look forward to hearing the results of games.
Services provided by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries in the IOT are delivered in partnership with the Australian Government, through Commonwealth funding support.
