Daintree ferry price set for new high, with costs of gravesites, dump fees and dog regos also revealed
Shire services
A return ferry trip to the Daintree is set to reach close to the $60 mark from the start of the new financial year, with most Douglas Shire Council fees and charges rising by up to 4 per cent in July.
A return trip on the ferry for a car or ute will cost about $57 after the DSC approved its new charging schedule in today’s council meeting - a one-way trip will likely be about $35 from July.
A report prepared for today’s meeting by council staff outlined the reasons for the virtual across-the-board increases for services such as dog registration, Rex Smeal Park hire fees, Port Douglas boat harbour berthing fees and graveyard burial sites.
“The Schedule of Fees and Charges for the 2026/2027 financial year has been developed with a focus on cost recovery for Council,” the report stated.
“Most fees will increase by approximately 3.9 per cent.”
A cemetery burial gravesite is set to now cost $1205, while a powered site at Mossman Caravan Park for two people during the peak period will cost $70 a night.
During off-peak, that comes down to about $60, while an unpowered peak-period site will cost $55, and about $45 during off-peak season.
Wonga Beach Caravan Park will be a bit more affordable at $45 for a couple per night at any time of the year, powered or not.
Rubbish dumping fees will start at $12.50 for a small load, but the price rises to about $30 for an extra-large pile of garbage carted to the tip in a ute with trailer.
The registration fee for a non-desexed dog will be $121, while the price for a desexed dog will be much cheaper at $34.
If that dog ends up in the pound, the release fee will be $73 for the first offence, $192 for a second impoundment and $230 for every subsequent release, while the first impoundment for a non-microchipped cat will be $163, but $70 if the cat is microchipped.
If you want to do three months of busking in Douglas Shire, that will cost you $37, but if you want to make a low-impact movie in the streets, beaches or parks of the region, that can be done for free. However, any high-impact filming - presumably if you want to do something like close down Macrossan Street while actor Travis Fimmel chases a baddy past Coles - will cost $180.
Hiring a section of Rex Smeal Park for an hour will cost you about $80, while the entire park for a full day will be about $1440. Holding a wedding reception for up to 200 people at Rex Smeal will cost you about $480.
Having your abandoned car towed away will set you back more than $260, while you will be charged more than $400 if the council deems it necessary to come along and mow your overgrown block of land.