'Apathetic' ratepayers are not holding council to account
Douglas Shire Ratepayers
President John Sullivan has delivered an impassioned call to arms in his Douglas Shire Ratepayers Association annual general meeting report, saying rates for many have increased by 29 per cent in about four years “seemingly without any strong justification”.
The October 9 dated report was blunt in its assessment of ratepayers and residents of Douglas Shire, saying the past financial year was “another year of apathy” by the cohort.
“Two years on from our Council elections, I believe we still lack the vision and leadership to
provide the ratepayers of Douglas Shire with a strong sense of direction,’’ Mr Sullivan said.
“Agriculture has no clear future. Many roads and drainage projects are still under repair from the rain events post Cyclone Jasper. The second water intake on the Mossman River still hasn’t started with the contract to be let in early 2026.
“Adding insult to injury, the Council voted for an 8.5 per cent rate rise in its latest budget.’’
He outlined there had been a 29 per cent increase of rates to many in the Shire since 2021 with little justification from the Council or any outcry from ratepayers.
Mr Sullivan made a plea to encourage friends and neighbours to join the ranks of the Ratepayers Association.
Of the issues the association has been following, Mr Sullivan said the Smart Water Meter roll out may have benefitted single dwelling ratepayers but ratepayers in body corporate entities had been denied the smart meters.
He labelled the Mossman Transition Committee as “missing in action”, said the north of the Daintree Audit had appeared to have gone quiet and questioned the Douglas Shire Town Planning Zones Review and if the Town Plan was still viable after the collapse of the Sugar Mill.
A plan several years ago for an off leash park had gone to the dogs and footpaths were in “a dangerous state’’, he added.
“We need to hold our Council responsible for delivering a healthy and viable community,’’ he pleaded.
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