INVESTORS will see Douglas Shire as the land of opportunity and prosperity under a new economic development initiative unveiled today.
Douglas Shire Council has released the first Douglas Shire Investment Prospectus to help take the region’s unique liveability, innovation, and sustainability credentials to the world.
The 28-page document and webpage help Council pitch the region to forward-thinking investors, businesses, and highly skilled entrepreneurs.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said beyond the world’s best natural beauty, Douglas Shire is home to an exciting portfolio of innovative and game-changing projects.
“There’s no better time to be a part of the dynamic business scene in the Douglas Shire,” he said.
“As a region we are uniquely positioned between the world’s oldest living rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.
“With a dedicated and talented pool of people as the driving force, Douglas Shire is poised to become a leader in innovative regeneration projects on one hand, and the world’s leading sustainable tourism destination on the other.”
“For example, in an Australian first, and with a dream-big vision, local cane growers bought back the Mossman Mill in 2019, and the Daintree Bio Precinct was born.
“The precinct brings a unique opportunity for innovators to work closely with farmers to access an abundant supply of sugar cane to create sustainable food products and energy.”
CocoNutZ Australia Managing Director Lucas Van Der Walt
CocoNutZ Australia has set up a food processing facility next to the Mossman Mill to produce Kecap Manis, a sweet soy sauce commonly used in Asian dishes, from local sugarcane.
CocoNutZ Australia Managing Director Lucas Van Der Walt said the company has an opportunity to play a part in disrupting the food industry.
“Our breakthrough was developing a product based on an abundantly available regenerative crop, sugar cane,” he said.
“We have worked collaboratively with Douglas Shire Council – the team helped guide us through aspects of our planning application and provided important local insights, allowing us to better understand the region and environment.”
As production scales up on the value-add offering, which uses juice from sugar cane, CocoNutZ will introduce renewable energy through sustainable waste management to create a circular economy within the precinct.
Douglas Shire was the first Eco Certified Destination in Australia and recorded the best tourism sentiment score in the top 100 most popular destinations for holiday makers on the planet in 2019 (Destination Think).
The Investment Prospectus celebrates the Shire’s dream-big projects and highlights opportunities for new businesses and investors to contribute to the Shire’s vision.
Other dream-big projects showcased in the Investment Prospectus include:
- Mossman Botanic Garden – a game-changer in rainforest conservation,
- Great Barrier Reef Legacy’s Living Coral Biobank – the world’s first coral conservation facility.
- North Break Port Douglas – a tropical surf park setting the tone for adventure tourism
- Daintree Renewable Microgrid – a transformative renewable energy solution for powering the remote Daintree region.
With contributions from local business leaders, the Douglas Shire Investment Prospectus provides an irresistible pitch for anyone looking to invest.
The Douglas Shire Investment Prospectus is available to view and download on Council’s website and Do It in Douglas.
