GET RID OF IT – Councillor moves to start discussion about offloading Shire’s most painful and costly asset
NEW DIRECTION
A move to once and for all finally rid local ratepayers of the burden of funding the ongoing upkeep of the much maligned and aging Daintree ferry was thwarted by legal red tape at this morning’s latest Douglas Shire Council meeting.
Heading into today’s meeting Cr Roy Zammataro, through a rescinded notice of motion, had submitted:
"I move that; 1. Council rescinds the motion Item 5.3 from the 26 July 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting being, That Council resolves to: “Replace the existing Daintree Ferry, with a single ferry capable of four lanes of road vehicles and dual road vehicle loading capability and associated landside infrastructure upgrades on both riverbanks”.
2. Council invite Expressions of Interest from private enterprise to own and operate the Daintree River Ferry.
3. Notes it is in the public interest to invite expressions of interest before inviting written tenders for the following reasons:
• To understand Early Market Engagement with potential Suppliers;
• To understand the scope potential and what the market may be able to offer;
• To enable the market to better understand potential compliance issues with the project and environmental controls due to the location of the site; and
• To enable the market to better understand the logistics of working in Far North Queensland, particularly within the Wet Tropics."
In simple terms Mr Zammataro wants Council to have a look at a private enterprise/contractor to own and operate the current ferry, operate a new ferry or perhaps identify another vessel that can simply do the job.
However, as anticipation built and conversation was about to begin about the matter, Mayor Michael Kerr quickly advised Councillors that legally the issue wouldn’t be discussed because Cr Zammataro supplied his rescinded motion to Council with four days’ notice rather than the five-day window that is legally required to act on such a motion.
The Deputy Mayor quickly questioned the developments after the meeting.
“I thank Cr Zammataro for putting that motion up, my concern is nobody from Council spoke to him (and advised him) about the (required) five-day legislation to submit his rescinded motion,” Cr Lisa Scomazzon told Newsport.
“Yesterday we got an email at 11.13am (Monday) saying he couldn’t discuss this motion because of the five-day ruling.
“Someone (at Council) could have spoken to Cr Zammataro and said to him, prior to it being put on the agenda that there is a five-day limit for a rescinded motion (and not four).
Cr Zammataro said he’ll ensure the matter is discussed at the June Council meeting and said his reasoning for wanting to offload the ferry is all about Douglas Shire ratepayers.
“I’ve thought about it (the motion) for quite a while,” Cr Zammataro said.
“Once I saw the expenses as well, that came out from the (failed) AMSA inspection which came to a total of $645,000, that cemented (my decision to put forward today’s motion).
“We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars of ratepayers money, being spent on an aging ferry.
“When it was in control of a private contractor, Council were making close to $1M a year profit on it, now any profit that is made is going to be used on maintenance.
“It (the motion) has to be passed and has to be done soon, because to build a ferry could take a couple of years.
“I’m not saying we want just a contractor that’s going to build a ferry, we might identify a contractor that has their own ferry and can continue, but at the moment, we need to get it away from ratepayers hands.
“It’s a financial disaster for Council and for the Shire really.”
Cr Zammataro’s motion comes following a tumultuous few years for the trouble plagued and aging vessel.
On May 17, 2021 DSC agreed to acquire the ferry at an initial purchase price of $4.5M.
Since then, semi-regular breakdowns, unscheduled maintenance upkeep, - funded by Douglas shire ratepayers - its age, and deteriorating condition, have all contributed to locals insisting Council offloads the ferry to a new owner.
Newsport has approached Council for comment about today’s developments.
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UPDATED 3PM, 30/5
Douglas Shire Council statement about declining to hear today's motion regarding the Daintree Ferry --
*According to the Local Government Regulation 2012 (Section 262), a Notice of Motion – which proposes repealing or amending resolutions – must be submitted to Council with at least five days’ notice. On this occasion Cr Zammataro gave only four days’ notice.
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Statement from Douglas Shire mayor Michael Kerr
“Council would have breached State Government regulations if it had discussed the (Daintree ferry) motion at today’s meeting,” Cr Michael Kerr said.
“My position as the Chair is to uphold the legislation. I am more than happy for the Notice of Motion to be heard at the next meeting when we have all the appropriate documentation.
“All councillors have received training of the Standing Orders which govern Council Meetings under the legislation framework.
"This is not the first time a motion has been rescinded and this compulsory time limit spoken about.
"If Councillor Zammataro had requested advice about his motion prior to lodging it, he would have been advised.”
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