Plans to reforest a large tract of inactive farmland on the southern side of the Daintree River have been rejected by Douglas Shire Council, which has voted to keep most of the land available for agriculture in case a viable crop can be found.

In last week’s meeting, the council heard that much of the about 400ha tract of land is unsuitable for cropping, with some of it not being farmed for about 10 years, and since the demise of cane farming in the region, there is no known viable crop which can be farmed there anyway.

The group wanting to reforest, Rainforest Rescue, also currently employs 10 people in the region and wants to employ more workers to help reforest the floodplain, and there is also much support in the region from landowners and Daintree Village locals.

Rainforest Rescue general manager Tate Brammer said the council decision was “disappointing and surprising”.

“This was a terrific project,” Mr Brammer said.

“We’re maintaining jobs, we’re creating jobs, we’re already employing 10 people in the region.

“We’re bringing in external funding and investment, so we’re boosting the local economy.

“It overwhelmingly was supported by the community, so there were 40 letters of support that were provided.

“We are specifically focussing on this one area, because it’s a huge floodplain.”

Councillors Abigail Noli and Michael Rees voted in favour of the project, but the other three councillors voted against it.

“This land is not realistically viable for agriculture, it is narrowly dependent on cane which is no longer viable and it’s on flood-prone, low-lying land,” Cr Noli said.

“This is a legitimate rural transition when sugar cane farmers have no real alternatives that would also benefit the environment, the reef, the river and the shire as a whole.