AROUND THE TRAPS: A chat about de-amalgamation, the state of Macrossan St and the Shire's small rate base
BILL ALLISON COLUMN
There has been some recent discussion about how tired Macrossan St in Port Douglas currently looks.
Some of this can be that businesses have been struggling over the last few years since Covid, then Cyclone Jasper and the following water problems we’ve had.
Council has not been able to do their part either, in maintaining our infrastructure and public areas.
There’s a reason Council can only do so much, and many people new to the Shire wouldn’t know why, so I’m going to try to explain to residents why Council struggles to provide the services that we expect.
This Council has a very small rate base, as it’s one of the smallest Shires by population in the country and has a population density of around 5.5 people per square kilometre.
Back in 2008 the then Labor State Government amalgamated the Shire with Cairns, forming the Cairns Regional Council.
The Government’s intention was to make Councils more efficient, by having larger Councils, but the fact that they were forced amalgamations, I believe was silly and politically stupid and I said that at the time.
During the 2012 State election David Kempton, the LNP candidate promised to allow the Shire to de-amalgamate, if he was elected.
When the LNP won government in 20012, David Crisafulli, who then became the Local Government Minister, called a referendum so residents could decide if they wanted to de-amalgamate.
The referendum was held in March 2013 where 57% of the Shire voted to de-amalgamate. To their word, the LNP carried out their promise to allow de-amalgamation of the shire.
So readers can understand why Council cannot provide the services a larger Council can provide, i’ll try to give an explanation.
Under Cairns Regional Council (CRC), we had one representative from this area, there was a CEO and several department managers - this cost was spread over the whole area of CRC. Douglas Shire now has to have four Councillors, a Mayor, CEO and several department managers, with a much smaller rate base. So, now I hope you see where the difficulties lay for Council and the Shire.
There was a lot of emotion over the amalgamation, and the State Labor Government paid a heavy price for it at the polls, with Jason O’Brien losing to David Kempton.
When the Shire had the referendum, it was made clear that once we de-amalgamated, there would be no going back, so any talk of amalgamation, is just talk.
For those who are new to the area, I hope I have shed some light on why Council cannot provide the services that larger Councils can provide.
Mossman Show
The show society held another successful show recently and it was lovely to catch up with so many people I haven’t saw for a while.
Volunteering at Soro’s Burger bar, which I have done for several years, is an enjoyable time and families can eat and drink there without breaking the bank.
They were so successful this time that they had sold out of burgers and most drinks by 7pm.
My daughter Karly, along with her son, won the rooster crowing competition, which has created a few laughs, luckily, she has a good sense of humour.
- Around the traps is a monthly column contributed by well known Douglas Shire resident Bill Allison.
- The views and opinions in the column are those of the author and author only and do not reflect those of the Newsport editor or staff.
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