An Aboriginal community in far north Queensland could hold the key to cleaner and more reliable power supply for isolated indigenous communities throughout Australia and the Pacific. The small township of Lockhart River on Cape York Peninsula is nestled in bushland, 800 kilometres north of Cairns, surrounded by pristine beaches and rainforest.
It’s idyllic, but incredibly remote. So much so it’s not even on the national power grid. Lockhart River relies on expensive and dirty diesel fuel to keep the lights on, and power the town’s businesses and homes. Until now. And it all comes down to solar power.
In this episode of Remarkable Tales, Griffith University Journalist in Residence, Nance Haxton reports from Lockhart River on how solar power is powering the town’s businesses, schools and homes.