Pool Entry Prices Cut to Get More Locals Swimming
The cost to take your kids to the Mossman Pool is set to drop by 50 per cent, following Council’s endorsement of this year’s Fees and Charges schedule.
Under the changes, adult entry will fall from $7 to $5, and children’s entry will drop from $4 to $2.
Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the decision was about boosting participation and keeping local activities affordable.
“We want to see more people through the gate — swimming, exercising, having fun and enjoying an affordable activity,” she said.
A new Daintree River Ferry Concessional Travel Card will cost $29 until April 2027, an increase of three dollars for local residents.
Most other Council fees and charges have increased in line with CPI at 3.9 per cent.
Funding bid could boost plans for milestone film
Plans to produce a film celebrating 150 years of Mossman and Port Douglas are set for a boost, with the project hinging on whether Council can secure $40,000 in Federal Government funding.
Council has retrospectively endorsed an application to the Festivals Australia Program to support the proposed film, Our place, our stories, which will draw on community‑contributed historical footage, photographs and memories.
Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the project would help preserve the region’s identity for future generations.
“This milestone is an opportunity for our community to reflect on where we’ve come from and to honour the people and stories that shaped the Douglas Shire,” she said.
If the grant is successful, a specialist contractor will be engaged to produce the project as part of a broader anniversary program being developed with local groups and schools.
Mayor to advocate at national event
There’ll be another opportunity for Mayor Lisa Scomazzon to advocate for the Douglas Shire with federal ministers when she attends the 2026 National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra this June.
The event will give the Mayor access to senior representatives from key Federal Government portfolios relevant to regional communities, including infrastructure, environment, tourism and local government.
The annual gathering brings councils from across Australia together to discuss national priorities, share ideas and strengthen local government advocacy at a national level.
Bid to create outdoor space at Mossman Library
Mossman Library could take on a more alfresco flavour if it’s successful in securing $50,000 in State Government funding for an outdoor upgrade.
Council has endorsed an application to the 2026–27 Rural Libraries Queensland Places and Spaces program, which would allow the currently unused strip of land beside the library to be transformed into a functional outdoor area for patrons and staff.
Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the upgrade would open the door to new programs and a more welcoming community space.
“This project would give our library the flexibility to host story time, school holiday activities and sensory play outdoors, while also providing a relaxed space for people to meet, eat or take phone calls,” she said.
“It’s a simple change that would make the library more accessible, more enjoyable and better suited to the way our community uses it.”
Council backs new plan to Strengthen Local Disaster Resilience
Douglas Shire Council has endorsed its updated Local Resilience Action Plan, paving the way for future funding bids to help the community better prepare for and recover from natural disasters.
The plan outlines practical, locally driven projects aimed at reducing disaster risk and improving resilience across the shire.
Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the plan keeps Council ready to act when funding becomes available.
“Having a clear plan means we can move quickly when grants open and make sure Douglas doesn’t miss out on opportunities to strengthen our resilience,” she said.
