YOU SAID IT! Call for community input on beach erosion
Letters and comments
Gordon Smith
Eh, stop cutting down the coconuts would have helped?
Luwanna Spratt
If a significant number of people actively participate in reef conservation efforts to combat coral bleaching, it's likely that the reef's health will improve, leading to the formation of robust coral beds. These coral beds can act as natural seawalls, effectively slowing down or preventing further sand erosion caused by weather patterns, human activities, and the effects of global warming and rising sea levels.
Ken St Pierre
The best thing about Port Douglas imo is the remnant native beach forest. Most places where people live near the sea the native trees have been removed. The council has bylaws forbidding the removal of plants along the foreshore so for those who don't know that, your comments regarding not removing the plants are redundant.
Bill Brown
Do nothing. The sand goes away and then comes back. Has done for a 100,000,000 years.
Nick Wakefield
Create more reefs closer to shore, in a structured form. Reef wins, beach wins, tourists win, economy wins. You’re welcome.
Wayne Branden
Sea level rise is inevitable due to climate change. It is just a question of how much how fast. IPCC estimates suggest upwards of 1m by 2100. However, those estimates are likely conservative. One scientist John Englander has suggested it could be as much as 3m by 2100. A walk along the Cape Kimberley Beach looking at all the dead trees shows that planting trees just above sea level can not halt future sea level rise.
Katrina Hayward
We remove the native vegetation around the beaches and the wonder why they erode quicker. Beaches will always change over time. That is nature doing what it does.
Push to control illegal dumping
Greg Simons
Follow Brisbane’s example and make general household rubbish/recycling/green waste free to dump at transfer stations.
Neil Jabs
Given Douglas Shire Council have the HIGHEST rates in North QLD - why can’t the DSC give one FREE dumping PASS to the ratepayers ie one every 6 months = 2 per year like most OTHER councils do in South East Queensland. That allows the ratepayers to do their own clean-up, costing council less. The fees are now insane - hence the illegal dumping. Let common sense prevail rather than costing us more and more.
Moo Man
Curbside hard rubbish pickup once a year by council.
Suede Varrica
Do free kerbside pick up as they do down south (everyone places items and stuff on kirb and council collects and dispose) especially before lead up to cyclone season. The town would be cleaner and safer. And the council should get rid off all the discarded sugar bins!
Damian Darlington
Dumping hard rubbish on nature strips for council pick up is a ridiculous idea. Be responsible for your waste and not make it another burden on ratepayers. We are a tourist destination. Tourist want to talk about how beautiful Port Douglas is and not ''It looks and smells just like Frankston''. Consider the end of use options before buying a large items and if it can be recycled locally. Choose lasting quality furnishings that can handle humidity.
Paul Atkins
Obviously stop charging individuals for general waste. You will save the money in not paying the illegal dumping cleanup costs.
Push for more care options outside of hospitals
Rhegan Hartwig-Lawry
Would also help if we had more GPs locally, to bring appt wait times down from 3-4 weeks.
Philip Carlon
All the funds have disappeared down the rabbit hole called NDIS!
John Roy
That hospital doesn't even have a CT scanner. No other health care. Don't get sick in QLD!!
Jean Marashlian
We have acknowledged for over a decade that this spike was looming. Older Australians wishing to remain independent but not being secure. The back-up on providing assistance to those able to live at home, with support is non- existent in most parts of our country. Private, for profit companies are bleeding the system and making it impossible for the truly needy to find help and support. They only want people who are "well" and not a burden in any to maximise profits. Older people wait over two years to even be assessed! Many die before this date. I am old, but fit, I really am angered that so many of my contemporaries are facing these issues.
Visitor tax would put us off
My husband and I came to Port Douglas for a week's holiday.
What we have found is very high food, accommodation and attraction costs.
For those with high incomes these may well be affordable, however for those of us who have saved hard to come and enjoy the beautiful area it borders unaffordable.
Accommodation is very dated and really needs updating.
Adding a visitor tax will, in my opinion, lead to further degradation of the accommodation on offer, a reduction in the quality of food, service and attractions.
Local government is responsible for the upkeep of the roads, removal of household waste and making sure it value adds to local businesses by attracting visitors to this wonderful part of Queensland.
Marianne Melnikas
Banora Point, NSW
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