Ratepayers Association back on track
NEW COMMITTEE
The Annual General Meeting of the Douglas Shire Ratepayers Association (DSRA) unfolded with a surprising twist as members initially considered winding up the advocate group, only to conclude with renewed determination to champion the interests of every ratepayer in the Douglas Shire.
The meeting, held at the Palmer Sea Reef Golf Club, had a poignant backdrop, given the recent death of DSRA's dedicated President, Sylvia Healey, who tirelessly strived to make a difference for the Douglas community up until her untimely passing. Former Tin Shed boss and Douglas FM President Mr Kym Rowley temporarily assumed leadership of the association. A new invigorated DSRA then sought a new President to lead the charge in scrutinizing council expenditure, ensuring value for ratepayer money, and amplifying residents' voices in local matters. Fortuitously, new faces stepped up to explore the association's mission and eagerly volunteered to serve on the Committee.
New President
The Douglas Shire Ratepayers Association now welcomes its new President, John Sullivan, a prominent figure known for his successful venture, Hortulus Landscapes. Hortulus, based in Port Douglas, specializes in landscape design, construction, garden maintenance, and retail services.
Mr. Sullivan's passion for the Shire makes him an ideal leader for the DSRA. His commitment to transparency and community engagement is a promising sign for the association's future. In a conversation with Newsport after the meeting, Mr. Sullivan affirmed his team's dedication to open discourse in the lead-up to the Local Government Election in March 2024.
“We’ve got so many things going on in the Douglas Shire and I think many of the ratepayers have a lot of questions and need to understand the direction that the new Council will bring to them” he said. Mr Sullivan is concerned with the state of Council at this time and its ongoing internal battles “As ratepayers who put money into the Douglas Shire Council, we really need to know where the direction is and we need to have a functional bunch of Councillors who can work together and at the moment we don’t seem to be seeing the work together thing very well, so as ratepayers we need to be demanding that our Councillors can work things out and move forward together or what’s the future?” he said.
A call to overcome apathy
Mr. Sullivan acknowledged a growing sense of apathy within the Shire, with residents expressing scepticism that substantial change has occurred in the Douglas Shire over the past two decades. This inertia, he believes, poses a significant challenge to the Shire's economic well-being. In addition to battling apathy, DSRA has identified two pressing concerns: the uncertain future of the Sugar Mill and the overdue replacement of the Daintree Ferry service.
“A lot of money was given to the Sugar Mill, and we need to know what happened there and we need to know that our friends across the river have a ferry service and that it’s going to happen or at least there’s an alternative for them because this has gone on far too long and we can’t have this constant state of flux,” Mr Sullivan said. As the calendar inches closer to March 2024, the upcoming Local Government Election promises to be a riveting turning point for the Douglas Shire, with the DSRA poised to play a pivotal role in reshaping its future.
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