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Sunshine and a well-equipped team is the recipe for success according to Douglas Shire Council CEO Mark Stoermer who presented his quarterly report to Councillors at today’s Ordinary Meeting.

The CEO Report aims to communicate how Council administration is managing the diverse activities and challenges arising in the course of its business, and to summarise work in progress and the milestones achieved.

Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu congratulated the various teams within Council for delivering a substantial amount of value back into the community.

“Council has achieved a significant amount over the last three months and I’m particularly proud of the work done to bring the Mossman Pool and Caravan Park back online following a short closure, the successful initiative that was Call of the Running Tide and the launch of the Active8 Free Fitness Program across the Shire,” she said.

“We celebrated NAIDOC Week with a wonderful exhibition and street parade, showcased beautiful gardens across the Shire in the Port Douglas Garden Awards we look forward to progressing the Port Douglas Lagoon concept after unveiling the design in September.”

In case you missed it, here’s a few other highlights from the CEO Report:

Resources are pawed into the Mossman Pound

An upgrade to the Mossman pound will occur in coming weeks which will see a grassed exercise area added to the facility, improving conditions for the dogs in Council’s care.

It is anticipated that this will have the added benefit of reducing anxiety and boredom for some dogs.

The pound will also get a new impervious coating applied to the floor, designed to reduce the risk of diseases such as canine parvovirus.

Council’s Local Laws team love their furry customers

Crack down on wandering dogs in the Shire

Officers commenced a dog registration audit of the Wonga Beach area following complaints of wandering, unregistered dogs.

The audit has been very successful and generally well received by residents across Wonga Beach, most of Newell and some of Mossman.

A total of 107 Compliance Notices have been issued, resulting in 135 new dog registrations, 7 excess dog applications and 1 referral to the RSPCA.

The audit will continue where time and resources permit.

Regulatory work on the menu for Environmental Health

Between July and September, the Environmental Health team continued with usual regulatory work, including 95 food and accommodation premises inspections, and investigating 40 environmental and public health complaints.

In addition, License and Approval renewal notices and invoices were issued to the following regulated businesses to enable renewals after 30 September:

  • 228 food premises
  • 21 accommodation premises
  • 158 public swimming pools
  • 1 personal appearance service (tattooist)

Disaster recovery works still running six months on

Disaster recovery projects continued in earnest between July and September, with submissions to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority for the 2019 events exceeding $12 million.

Works to stabilise and re-open two lanes of the Cape Tribulation Road at Alexandra Range were completed during the period.

Road repair tenders went out to market with a price tag for works of more than $4 million.

Initial stabilisation activities of the Upper Daintree Road landslip were completed while tenders were let for the 2018 roads recovery including Cape Tribulation Bloomfield Road landslip and the Syndicate Road landslip, with works commencing on the roads project.

Landslip at Upper Daintree Rd.

Native plants and feral animals keep Biosecurity teams busy

A total of 109 feral pigs were trapped and destroyed by our Pest Animal Controller this period.

Our staff were trained by Biosecurity Queensland inspectors as part of the Northern Australia Biosecurity Surveillance Program.

The purpose is to monitor feral animal health and report anything out of the ordinary.

Mossman nursery produced 2,192 native plants for streambank restoration, community and Council works.

A long list of upgrades for our parks and gardens

The parks and gardens team have completed a number of projects and maintenance activities during this period. The following projects were undertaken:

Port Douglas

  • Returfing and drainage upgrade to Little Cove
  • A total of 14 garden/irrigation upgrades in Macrossan Street and the Esplanade were completed
  • Clearing dead wood and replanting of vegetation sound barrier on the Captain Cook Highway
  • Clearing of dead/self-seeded vegetation at IGA vegetation barrier, Mirage Country Club roundabout and Old Port Road
  • Mulching of various gardens including the Community Hall and Flagstaff Hill Walking Trail
  • Mechanical hedging of sound barriers on Port Douglas Road (Opposite IGA)
  • Directional boring in Macrossan Street for irrigation to gardens and electrical cable for lighting project
  • Tree planting and grass seeding of Diggers Bridge Recreational area
  • Irrigation checks/upgrades to all gardens
  • Replacement of damaged bollards in various locations including Four Mile Park,
  • Teamsters Park, Sports Complex and Market Park
  • Port Douglas Cemetery Memorial Garden upgrade.

Mossman

  • Mechanical hedging in Johnston Road and Front Street
  • Turfing and repairing gardens at the Daintree Ferry destroyed from flood events.
  • Vegetation works at Newell Beach Esplanade to improve public access and overall appeal of the area.
  • Irrigation checks and repairs in Mossman gardens.
  • Garden upgrade at Daintree Township toilet block.
  • Steam weeding of all playgrounds Mossman to Cape Tribulation.
  • Pressure cleaning of all public toilet blocks Mossman to Daintree Township.
  • New beach access path completed at Mossman River Newell Beach.
  • Mossman Caravan Park vegetation works including removal of three dead and/or dangerous trees, mowing and coconut de-nutting.

Library memberships on the rise

Council’s Library Services has seen an increase in membership and loans from the previous year and continues to strive to become a leader in libraries in the state.

The full CEO Report for July to September, 2019 can be viewed, here.

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