Setback for Tin Shed's expansion plans as council rejects land sale
Douglas venues
A planned expansion of iconic Port Douglas venue The Tin Shed has hit a snag, with Douglas Shire Council this week voting not to support the sale of the land to the current leaseholders.
The DSC is currently responsible for the parcel of land and sea that takes in the popular restaurant and bar - which also includes the Sugar Wharf and the stretch of water from the wharf to Dickson Inlet - even though it is owned by the State Government.
Tin Shed lessee Douglas Community and Sports Club has approached the Government in an effort to buy the land where the venue is located, but the sale has to be ticked off by the council to go ahead.
At Tuesday’s regular full council meeting, however, councillors voted unanimously to oppose the land sale.
Cr Damian Meadows said the council wanted to work with Tin Shed management to help make the redevelopment happen, but this did not mean selling off the land and venue was needed at this stage.
“This is a little bit like putting the cart before the horse,” Cr Meadows said.
The councillors were concerned that, if the block was sold off, the transfer would be permanent, and any future changes of use would be ruled out indefinitely.
Every councillor, as well as Mayor Lisa Scomazzon, said The Tin Shed was a great asset to the community, and they wanted to help as much as possible with making the redevelopment happen, except for selling the land.
Mayor Scomazzon: “The Tine Shed does a lot for our community.”
Cr Michael Rees said the decision was “very difficult” because the Tin Shed did a “phenomenal amount for the community”, but it was in the ratepayers’ interests to retain the land as public property.