Good Council Matters

A large part of being a Councillor is planning for the future (and) making sure the Shire is on the right sustainability path, this means leadership in strategic asset management and the provision of quality, affordable and reliable essential services.  Last month’s (ordinary) meeting incorporated a lot of planning for the future - let’s break it down. 

Water in Douglas

The Water Security Strategy and Implementation Plan was adopted.  This is a document that identifies:

• Strategic priorities, timeframes and estimated costs for upgrading the water supply networks to deliver improved water supply security in the short, medium and long-term; and

• Other options considered a priority from either a compliance and/or an asset maintenance and replacement perspective.

This plan can be provided as the main supporting documentation with an application to the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water for a licence to extract additional 2,000 ML per annum of water from the Mossman River, which is a requirement for the Mossman River Intake.

Why do we need to do that?

Because Douglas is forecast to exceed its current water extraction licence by 2025-2026 which is a way of saying that in a few short years, we will be wishing to extract more water from Rex Creek than we are allowed to.  Regardless of how it may appear in North Qld, water is not limitless.

Safe, secure and reliable water supply is essential to support the growth, health and wellbeing of communities and this is one part of a multipronged way froward for future growth and generations.

Waste Disposal

How good is it to throw your rubbish in the bin and not think about it anymore?  I love it, but waste disposal is one of the most challenging considerations for the future.

The Killaloe Waste Disposal Facility reached its capacity for accepting landfill waste on  September 7, 2022 and Council is now in the process of undertaking the final stage of capping for the site.

The landfill closure leaves no alternative disposal options for landfill waste in the Douglas Shire but Council must continue to lawfully dispose of landfill waste in a facility that holds an Environmental Authority for waste disposal.

A contract was awarded for the services of a suitable contractor for the cartage and disposal of approximately 40 to 80 tonnes of dry mixed landfill waste per week to a facility that holds an Environmental Authority for waste disposal. 

The cartage and disposal costs are estimated for the first 12-month period is $535,000.00 including GST.  This is for landfill waste alone.

Recycling and recovery processes at Council’s three operational Transfer Stations and new initiatives continue to be explored to achieve reductions in the amount of residual waste being disposed to landfill.  The transfer stations will continue to be operated in a manner that works toward achieving waste reduction and recycling targets. 

Residential Needs Analysis, AKA - Housing development necessity

Council needs to allow more housing subdivisions.

No, Council needs to limit and worry for the future overpopulation!

Heard these before and various other opinions?  What are the facts and how do Councillors balance pressures about what is best?  Information is key and good data is the place to start.

Council recognised and commissioned a report on a Residential Needs Assessment to investigate and report on numerous aspects of the residential housing market in the Shire.

The report was commissioned having regard to the increase in housing demand observed in the Shire and the Region post Covid-19, and to benchmark this growth against land designated to accommodate urban development in the current Planning Scheme. Other observations in the housing market included an increasingly tight rental market and difficulties experienced by a range of businesses to locate and retain staff due to the tight rental market and accommodation options.  Is there something that Council can do to help alleviate these observations?

In undertaking the assessment, a range of data sources and aspects were considered, which can be seen in the full report. 

Amongst other items, the investigation identified:

• The analysis has identified that there remains sufficient capacity to accommodate population and dwelling growth within Douglas Shire to 2041. This is accommodated by take-up of large residential zoned allotments and existing subdivision approvals. This investigation has also considered under-utilised higher density residential zoned land in the Port Douglas and Craiglie localities.

• Housing stock is predominately characterised by detached dwellings outside of Port Douglas with a significant proportion of small dwellings (1 and 2 bedroom) in the Port Douglas statistical area as opposed to attached dwellings;

• Approximately 60% of housing stock in the Port Douglas & Craiglie area is currently being used for short term accommodation and therefore not available to the long term housing market;

• The investigation has highlighted an opportunity to provide for housing choice through the provision of semi attached and attached residential housing product. This finding is primarily targeted in the Mossman and coastal communities.

Safe Places Units

Council has committed to provide in-principle support for a Freehold Lease to an organisation to deliver services related to Douglas Safe Places, and commits to maintaining the Douglas Safe Places facility, including carrying out responsive and planned maintenance for the duration of a lease period.

Douglas Safe Places is a supported accommodation refuge for people escaping domestic and family violence. Built by Council, and funded by the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Grant, the facility is ready for a department-funded organisation to now deliver services.

For service provision to commence, Douglas Safe Places requires the appointment of a department-funded organisation to manage program delivery and a designated body to manage the facility.

It is proposed that Council be the responsible body for maintaining the property. Maintenance responsibilities include carrying out responsive and planned maintenance, structural works and upgrades. Maintenance is inclusive of yard and landscape maintenance.

Costs related to these duties, whether undertaken by Council or an external body, will be incurred by Council. The Building Facilities and Open Spaces teams estimate maintenance costs at approximately $25,000 per annum, increasing each year with rising goods and services expenses.

Why is Council pursuing this?

The Douglas Shire has one of the State’s highest rates of reported domestic and family violence coupled with a high proportion of the population especially vulnerable to barriers restricting access to support services.  The response for women escaping domestic violence is a referral to agencies in Cairns where demand for supported accommodation consistently outstrips supply.

Since 2016 Council has been working to advocate for the establishment of a domestic violence accommodation facility in the region and this is the culmination of all that work.  An in-principle commitment from Council to provide a Freehold and to being the responsible body for maintaining the property will strengthen Council’s advocacy to the State Government for operational funding.

I fully support this in-principle commitment as strong assistance to DV victims build strong and happy communities, a concept which I strive to achieve as a Councillor.

*Abigail Noli is a current sitting Councillor.