LETTER TO ED: Where were the Councillors during Jasper? - Desperately assisting residents in their time of need, that's where

CLEARING UP MISTRUTHS

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A reader has moved to quash suggestions local Councillors went missing during last December's double disasters in the Shire. Picture: Nella Pringle

Dear Editor,

Having lived in Port Douglas for 47 years I have watched the area change and grow - some ways good, some not so good.

I have never got involved with politics but now feel with the misinformation and finger pointing at such a crucial time for us all I have to speak up.

Crispin Hull in his recent Newsport article is correct in saying Mayoral candidate Lisa Scomazzon seems to have the best grasp of the current issues and has been the best performer on Council. We cannot afford to lose this valuable experience. Handing over the reins to a newcomer is a big risk for ratepayers.

The transportation project suggested as a priority for the Shire by David Haratsis, a newcomer to the area, obviously does not know that issue was considered, researched and subsequently rejected as a non-viable project by a previous Council about 10 years ago.

We cannot afford to waste ratepayer funds on non-viable ideas. Politicians all over the world use the word 'change' and people throw their fist in the air and cry 'yes'. But more often than not the change is not for the betterment of the people or the area.

Another suggestion was made for the cane trains to take tourists around the area - again, been there, done that. This was done in the 1980s and was fun but proved to be non-viable. The insurances alone are enormous, plus the maintenance costs of the tracks and bridges is prohibitive. Those who have recently moved to the Shire seem to think the locals have sat back on their haunches and done nothing.

This is far from the truth.

Jeremy Blockey was also right by saying that we cannot have all our eggs in the one basket, by focusing just on tourism. Having had a motel, restaurant and holiday villas in Port Douglas over the years since 1977 and experienced the ups and downs through the stock market crash of 1987, the airline pilots strike, the global financial crisis, many cyclones, floods and Covid, it is certainly not the most stable industry.

Tourism is fickle and subject to local, national and international events, trends and circumstances. In FNQ it is also very seasonal.

Years ago the main industry here was the cane farming, followed by fishing, and then tourism. We have to look after farming and agriculture and I think the possibilities in this area are amazing and exciting to contemplate.

Fact - the world is desperately short of food.

The question was raised as to the whereabouts of the Councillors during the cyclone and floods. Here is the answer:

Abigail Noli went to flooded homes and helped and accommodated drenched residents by opening her home to them. Once they were settled she then left to spend many long hours each day cooking food for other displaced residents. I am told Roy Zammataro was out each day in his four wheel drive removing fallen trees from bridges and roads.

Lisa Scomazzon and her partner were physically clearing blocked drains and gutters as well as accommodating, feeding and finding dry clothes for a large group of SES workers.

Now the priority is to get the water supply up to standard and look after the needs of the residents north of the Daintree river by getting the road open to Cape Tribulation.

For that we need experienced people with accurate local knowledge ready to make the right calls from day one.

Regards,

Name withheld by request - Port Douglas

 

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