JUNGLE DRUM: The critical eight-point blueprint on how to be an effective Douglas Shire Councillor in 2024 and beyond
COLUMN
In this column I wanted to focus on Councillor matters. In particular, I thought I'd provide some food for thought, on how going forward we can ensure our Councillors are united, galvanised and ultimately working for the people they represent - the residents of the Douglas Shire.
In recent times we have had to grapple with a new order. Bureaucrats have wrested too much control and Councillors are castrated figureheads. Bureaucrats make the decisions and Councillors have taken the hit at the polling booth. So, how do Councillors become effective?
- Stop infighting. Respect each other’s opinions, work for community not DSSG and stop reporting each other every week. It’s not Primary School. From the Mayor down, communicate and work together for us.
- Demand more. Follow up regularly and ensure bureaucrats are still carrying out tasks assigned. Failing to do this equals water security issues, bridges not assembled and lots of money spent for little actual result on landside ferry infrastructure. To mention a few. Get up them.
- Start doing your own research. Early on, Councillors got information on Donovan’s Range, awarding a contract against staff recommendations. But that didn’t last. Don’t trust the people who who had a new river formed at Newell by a leak, who let tenders with no permits, say they are easy to get, then later say there is no chance getting them. And more.
- Set up meetings that matter. We hear all the time about how TMR repairs/improves random roads here with no input to Council. Demand that TMR executives meet regularly with Council. If they don’t, call them out publically. Demand better.
- Create working groups. We had a wonderfully successful Daintree Joint Management Group (DJMG) that in a short time got a lot done. It was great to have decision makers from Wet Tropics, National Parks, Council, Jabalbina all in the same room with community members, tourism reps, and business reps. Nowhere for excuses, and things like the Cape Trib turnoff that had idled along for years suddenly had life breathed into them. Make the D for Douglas and add TMR and a DJMG would have sorted many issues by now but inexplicably our Councillors (or is staff?) view it as a hot potato.
- Meaningful interaction with politicians is needed. I don’t mean picture ops, I mean making sure that Douglas Shire issues are heard. We need less of the #strongertogether nonsense, and more ‘what are you doing for our shire?’ We want Councillors representing us and that sometimes means being disarmingly frank with other levels of government. And telling us when you were; why you were. The squeaky wheel gets the oil.
- Get out and about. If you can visit parts of the shire regularly when you are on the hustings, then you can after election. That’s how you find out what is REALLY happening as opposed to being deluged with paperwork full of bulls***. Don’t ghost us.
- Lastly, know when to give up. If we can’t afford to maintain roads, can’t deliver recycling services to the Daintree, can’t cut the grass and control vegetation obscuring road markers, then it is time to go. I marched in the street to get Douglas back but maybe I was wrong? The level of neglect in some areas of the shire is appalling and if we don’t have the cash to look after the place, then amalgamation looks like the answer.
*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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