Y.I.R. NOVEMBER 2023: Mossman Mill in limbo, recycle business shuts up shop, helmet-free bike riding, and Fairmont developer loses court appeal
NOV 2023
DEVASTATING BLOW TO MOSSMAN MILL
In November Newsport broke the distressing news that Mossman Sugar Mill and its associated companies had been put into voluntary administration.
The signs had been there as recently as a week earlier, when we reported comments in a letter from Chairman Rajinder Singh to stakeholders of the Mill and bio precinct stakeholders: “The viability of the Mill for the 2024 season can no longer be assured,” was one of the statements made in that earlier correspondence.
Now that the mill’s 2023 season has well ended, the uncertainty about the mill’s – and the surrounding Daintree Bio Precinct’s – future, including that of its employees, growers, contractors and many others, still remains unknown.
POPULAR RECYCLING DEPOT SHUTS DOWN
Newsport also brought its readers other bad news in November that a well-liked container recycling business had been forced to close.
The owner of Port Douglas Recycling at Craiglie told us he believed he was “set up to fail.”
Stacy Wilkinson, who closed the small business saying it was no longer sustainable, said he did not receive support – despite being promised he would – from the statewide Container Exchange (COEX) program, which runs the ‘Containers For Change’ scheme.
Mr Stacy’s business was launched when Containers For Change first started in 2018. But just two years later, another Containers For Change was allowed to open, within just a 16-kilometre distance in Mossman, in a Shire-wide market of just 12,500 people.
Mr Wilkinson said in a detailed statement sent to us: “In 2020 at time of issuing my first concerns, CoEx stated they were sending a team to assist with growth and development. This did not occur,” he wrote.
“I feel I was set up to fail, and have lost a seven figure sum of money.”
Newsport asked COEX-Containers For Change for comment about Mr Wilkinson’s concerns that he did not receive proper support from them for his operation.
A COEX spokesperson responded, saying, “Container Exchange put forward a range of support measures to Mr Wilkinson aimed at increasing container collection volumes in his region,” adding that “these included the provision of a dedicated business development employee for the region, extra support and resources for marketing activities and additional container collection infrastructure in his local region.”
MOSSMAN SPLASH PARK DELAYED
As the onset of summer started to become clearly noticeable, parents hoping to take their kids for some cooling off fun at the new Mossman Splash Park were disappointed to hear through us that the attraction was not expected to be ready in time for the Christmas holidays.
Douglas Council had originally planned to have the Splash Park open by April. But Mayor Michael Kerr said work on upgrading power at the park, alongside the Mossman Pool, was further delayed:
“Council is waiting on an energy retailer to upgrade power at the site,” Cr Kerr said. “Unfortunately, the timing of the upgrade is out of Council’s control,” he added.
In response, a statement from Ergon said: “Timeframes depend on a range of factors, including the type and complexity of the connection, the extent of any network upgrades required to support it, need to bring in additional resources from outside the area, third party approvals and weather conditions during construction.”
BIKE RIDING WITHOUT HELMETS
Paul Makin pointed out an alarming trend of riding pushbikes helmet-free, in a concerning feature story for Newsport in November.
“A growing issue is unfolding in Port Douglas as adults and young cyclists flout helmet laws, a trend that seems to echo throughout the Shire even though it’s compulsory headwear for bike riders,” Paul wrote.
“As I watch this madness it reminds me of a gentleman I was told about by Queensland medico’s who is now aged 61, who fell off his bike at age 13 and sustained permanent brain damage as a result, leaving him both physically and mentally impaired.
“He has very limited mobility, his intellect is severely impaired, and has permanent lossof mental capacity and agility. He’s only one of many who are left scarred for life.
“If only these people playing ‘Russian Roulette’ on bikes could visit and see those people in the community who are now struggling to live as normal a life as possible,with the physical effects and brain damage they have incurred when falling off their bike, scooter or skateboard whilst not wearing helmet protection.”
FAIRMONT RESORT DA APPEAL FAILS
A Melbourne developer’s crusade to build a massive five-star Fairmont resort on the old ‘Havana’ site at 71-85 Port Douglas Road hit another major stumbling block in November – with his appeal against a Council decision being dismissed in the Planning and Environment court in Brisbane.
The judge formally denied Chiodo Corporation’s Paul Chiodo “a development permit for a material change of use to facilitate a luxury, five- star, resort complex contained in a single building”.
The appeal was essentially about Chiodo Corporation Operations trying to have Douglas Shire Council’s original denial of the proposed $300-million luxury resort DA (on September 28, 2021), reversed.
Thank you!
Newsport thanks its advertising partners for their support in the delivery of daily community news to the Douglas Shire. Public interest journalism is a fundamental part of every community.
Got a news tip? Let us know! Send your news tips or submit a letter to the editor here.
* Comments are the opinions of readers and do not represent the views of Newsport, its staff or affiliates. Reader comments on Newsport are moderated before publication to promote valuable, civil, and healthy community debate. Visit our comment guidelines if your comment has not been approved for publication.