JUNGLE DRUM: Poor roadside presentation a sore point for Daintree residents

THE VOICE OF THE DAINTREE

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Newsport columnist Lawrence Mason believes DSC could spend some more time ensuring Daintree roadside areas are cut and maintained more frequently. All pictures: Lawrence Mason

Presentation……or lack of it in the Daintree

Port Douglas looks superb. I reckon there is a ‘palm leaf action squad’ and boy those mowers and brush cutters get a workout. As they should. Port Douglas is the key accommodation venue in the Shire. 

So it's shocking when tourists head north to the iconic Daintree Rainforest... Over there the grass and weeds proliferate roadside, making it hard to see wildlife that is about to cross.

Roadside makers are moldy and sit at haphazard angles due to the slashers getting a bit too close, perhaps in the knowledge that no spraying or brush cutting will ever occur near them.

Douglas Shire CEO Rachel Brophy recently said slashing was scheduled and no different to other areas, but that does not explain why Daintree-Mossman road seems to be done more often?

She also said that such activities are constrained by budget. Brush cutting is ‘uneconomical’ and herbicide can’t be used (or that is what I interpreted from the link I was sent by way of an answer).  So even if the place looks terrible, bad luck.

This picture shows an area that has been properly maintained by DSC.

The roadsides north of the river are a disgrace, infested with Navua Sedge, ripped up by the hordes of pigs, and many roadside markers are either obscured by grass or so moldy they are near useless. National Parks and private owners can keep the area around their signs brush cut and looking good. Why can’t DSC look after the rest of the roadside properly?

Mossman High News

Mossman High stands against bullying

On Friday, August 18 Mossman High celebrated the ‘national day of action against bullying and violence’, students wore a splash of orange and discussed the issue in class. It is great to see the school being proactive on this important issue.

Date Claimer 

Mossman High will hold its presentation of awards on Thursday, October 19. Come and see the award winners, it is an 8.45am gathering for a 9am start. I attended last year and it is a great morning.

When is a multi-day pass not a multi-day pass?

For the last month I have had a friend visiting. Being a school business manager back home, she is fairly organized and thus went online in April and bought multi day passes for the Ferry. On June 19 the Ferry Facebook page posted this:

A marker hides inbetween high grass.
A mouldy road marker in the Daintree.

‘Discounted 10 vehicle passes or multi-day books will expire after June 30, 2023. No refund will be issued for any unused tickets/travel as these passes are heavily discounted.’

Why not honour the ones already purchased? Luckily for her, I simply gave her a wad of visitor tickets. But if she had no friends here? Bad luck, buy again. Is this how we treat tourists who buy in good faith? 

Family Fun Day

Get over the river on September 9 for the annual family fun day.

Bigger and better every year this one will feature a jumping castle, petting zoo, face painting, cake and condiment competition, live music and more. Make sure you bring cash for the monster raffle which has nearly 100 prizes!

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*Lawrence Mason has lived at Cape Tribulation all his life, and has been involved in farming, timber and tourism. He is a former board member of Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, founding Chair of Daintree Marketing Co-operative, and has been a member of both Alexandra Bay and Mossman State High School P&C. He is also a member of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce and has a keen interest in local issues.

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