JUNGLE DRUM: Jasper vs 29U
LAWRENCE MASON COLUMN
It has been interesting comparing the Jasper rain event and closure to this one. In many ways we have come forward a lot. The Council especially is a lot more open and communicative.
We even were told the ferry was missing in the middle of the night, not something I would never have expected previously. We would have got three pages of mumbo jumbo.
The cameras have remained on at the ferry both sides save for a brief ‘secret squirrel’ moment one night. Previously the cameras were always interfered with for works.
Transport across the river was organised quickly and is a lot more usable than before.
Emails and comms while at times vague on timelines have been generally good.
The State must have broken some sort of record to get us Disaster Declared in 3 days!
Both David Kempton and Lisa Scomazzon have visited and listened to us carefully.
Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, Council staff and TTNQ have been here too and taken away our concerns.
Australia Post has been amazing; and their response is nothing like the Jasper debacle. NE Global as always has stepped up for our community.
Locally it has been great to see everyone working together. Ocean Safari boat charters have been getting people home. We are storing hire cars, and local cars. Daintree Ice-cream and our café provide free meals and ice cream. Businesses are working together to get deliveries and have shops and fuel pumps open.
Fuel has been organised to keep the mobile towers running.
HEH got stuck into the Bloomfield Track and are keeping it open, so we have an alternative way out.
Green Ant Transport is again the lifeline if you want goods delivered to your business.
FNQ bus lines has modified its run for school kids and DSC have made dedicated times for the passenger ferry to suit.
Mossman High teachers have been flexible with assessments to accommodate high school kids stranded.
Nautilus Aviation has stepped up again, delivering fuel and evacuating people to work for very reasonable fees.
Police and Ambulance remain northside, which is very comforting to know.
This is pretty much a ‘worst case’ scenario, a little over two years after Jasper, and it is gratifying to see the community united with mostly common purpose.
Hopefully that energy remains harnessed so we can work to get some of the infrastructure promised after Jasper but not delivered. This time we have a proper medical centre and what difference that makes.
A microgrid, and some marine access, along with community land for storing fuel and machinery at Cape Tribulation should be a high priority now.
*Lawrence Mason has lived at Cape Tribulation all his life, and has been involved in farming, timber and tourism. He is a former board member of Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, founding Chair of Daintree Marketing Co-operative, and has been a member of both Alexandra Bay and Mossman State High School P&C. He is also a member of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce and has a keen interest in local issues.
- The opinions and views in this column are those of the author and author only and do not reflect the Newsport editor or staff.
