Your Douglas News - May 2023

Construction starts on Mossman Splash Park

CONSTRUCTION has started on the Mossman Splash Park with excavation work now underway.

Douglas Shire Councillors met at the Mossman Pool and Caravan Park to mark the start of construction and release the artist impression.

Council contractors started digging at the grass area before installing underground pipes to get the site ready for splash park materials.

The project is joint funded by Council and the Queensland Government which has offered Council $1.5 million to build splash parks in Mossman and Port Douglas.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said the splash park would draw more local families to the Mossman Pool.

“The splash park will be a fantastic addition to the Mossman Pool precinct which is already a really popular venue,” he said.

“Parents will love watching their kids splash around from nearby shady picnic tables and BBQs areas.

“We have more than 1500 pre-schoolers and primary school students in Douglas Shire, many who live on farms, in Mossman and in our rural beachside neighbourhoods.”

“I would like to thank the State Government for providing funding to build this splash park which will be suited to our relaxed tropical lifestyle.”

A report on the community engagement seeking feedback on the location for a splash park in Port Douglas has been completed and will be considered by Councillors at a future meeting.

Family fun at Port Douglas Carnivale

A JAM-packed event program full of good old fashioned family fun, vibrancy, imagination, and adventure is set to entice families to join in the action of Port Douglas Carnivale from May 19-21.

The free premier events for the little ones are the Property Shop Port Douglas & Mossman Street Parade on Friday, May 19, which this year has been themed Living the Best Life, and the fun and action of the Tin Shed Family Beach Day on Saturday, May 20. Each year, crowds line the streets to watch the parade, which is a true community event and includes motorised floats, bands, dancers, and more.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said families would also be able to enjoy the festivities before the parade with the Kids Disco kicking off from 4.30pm outside Rattle n’ Hum on Macrossan Street.

“The spectacle and colour of the parade is amazing, and the action continues afterwards with the fun fair, entertainment and fireworks display at 8pm,” he said.

On Saturday, Four Mile Beach will be transformed into a playground for locals and visitors alike.

The day’s program will start at 10am and includes beach hockey, treasure hunt, a sandcastle competition, circus performance, water sports, market stalls, kites display, beach busking and story time

with ‘Ecky Geck’.

At the Wonderland Spiegeltent, the story of Peter Pan, Wendy, the pirates and just maybe a certain crocodile, will be reimagined in the most extravagant and enchanting way ever.

Circus Wonderland – A Neverland Adventure has been specially created for children of all ages and weaves a magical story full of acrobatic feats, comic moments and crazy characters.

Other family events include the Pooch Party at Jalunbu Park on Saturday, May 20.

This exclusive soiree for the canine in your household promises to be a great day out with lots of treats on offer and a heap of prizes including best dressed and best groomed to the dog with the waggiest tail and the ultimate accoladeprime pooch of the pack.

“All proceeds from the event will go towards Paws & Claws Animal Shelter,” Mayor Kerr added.

Wrapping up the Carnivale weekend will be the Port Douglas Markets, Douglas Dash and Seafood Extravaganza on Sunday, May 21.

Running throughout the weekend is the Go Troppo art exhibition at the Port Douglas Sugar Wharf and Tropical Destinations Photography Exhibition at the Port Douglas Community Hall.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.carnivale.com.au

Douglas Shire Councillors mark the start of Mossman splash park construction at Mossman Pool.

Family beach day.

Pooch party.

A memorable ANZAC Day

Local company to build Mossman Gorge cycleway

CONSTRUCTION on the project, which includes installation of a pedestrian bridge, pile driving, drainage improvements and pedestrian crossovers, will start in May 2023.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said a shared pathway connecting the town and Mossman Gorge was a priority route.

“The pathway will allow children to safely ride their bikes to school. It’s a total distance of three kilometres and approximately a 10-minute ride,” he said.

“The pathway will have solar powered, recessed lighting to make it safer for

people to walk at night, given there’s no streetlights once you are outside the urban area.

“The Far North Queensland Principal Cycle Network plan provides an exciting pipeline of cycleway investment for Douglas.”

The 2km shared pathway will connect Kubirri Aged Care Centre to the Mossman Gorge, marking the final leg of the 3.6km pathway from the intersection of Captain Cook Highway and Johnston Road.

A key priority is to connect Mossman township to Mossman Gorge Centre via a shared pathway for pedestri-

ans, cyclists and those using mobility scooters. Council has been planning and building cycleways to connect communities to the Mossman CBD.

• Council is working on the design for a pathway from Mossman Golf Club through to the Newell Beach esplanade and the next step will be to source funding for the construction phase.

• The cycleway from Mossman to Cooya Beach turn off has been completed. Planning is underway to extend the cycleway down Melaleuca Drive to the beach.

HUNDREDS of locals and visitors attended ANZAC services in Douglas Shire. Three services were held on ANZAC as well as multiple school ceremonies earlier in the week.

Cr Roy Zammataro, Deputy Mayor Lisa Scomazzon, Cr Abigail Noli, Cynthia Lui MP & Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr at Mossman Dawn Service.

Port Douglas ANZAC Service.

Mossman Gorge Road.

Pickleball comes to Douglas

Parkrun in Paradise

DOUGLAS Shire Council is seeking expressions of interest from community members to drive the Douglas Parkrun.

The free communitybased activity is a weekly event held on Saturdays, featuring a 5km run, jog or walk and a 2km option for juniors and families.

Parkrun is a positive, welcoming and inclusive

experience where there is no time limit, and no one finishes last!

There are currently 466 parkrun events around the country, taking place every weekend, lets add Douglas to the Parkrun calendar.

To get going, Parkrun needs a volunteer committee to conduct the events. The Parkrun program will assist with all the training

and logistics. Are you interested in becoming a member? Please forward your Expressions of Interest (contact details and brief statement confirming your interest) to Council’s Sport and Recreation Officer, Jordan Hougan by email: Jordan.hougan@douglas. qld.gov.au

AUSTRALIA’S fast-growing ball sport – a combination of tennis, badminton and ping pong – is bringing people from different generations together and thanks to Douglas U3A movement, Douglas could have its very own team.

Residents of all ages and abilities are invited to pick up a paddle and have some fun at an indoor come and try day on Saturday 6th of May.

The event will be held between 11am and 4pm at the Mossman indoor sports hall.

All equipment, as well as beginner level instruction, will be provided by Cairns and District Pickleball Club. Participants are encouraged to wear tennis shoes or runners.

For more information please contact U3A member Liz Kendall at ekendall56@gmail.com

Have Your Say Port Douglas Skate Park

HOW COUNCIL SPENDS EVERY $100:

DOUGLAS Shire Council is calling for community input on the draft concept designs for Port Douglas Skate Park.

Two potential design options for the park have been created from initial feedback. Check out the concepts online and complete our short survey to tell us which is your favourite!

Survey closes 9am Monday 8 May 2023.

WHAT’S ON

• Saturday 6th – Mossman Markets, 7am – 1pm

• Sunday 7th – Port Douglas Sunday Markets, 8am – 1.30pm

• Sunday 7th – Daniel Champagne at The Clink Theatre

• Monday 8th – Who’s Your Mob Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander family history workshop at Mossman Library, 10:30am

• Tuesday 9th – Hearing Australia, free hearing checks at Mossman Library, 10:30am

• Thursday 11th – Free community NDIS information session at Mossman High School, 5:30pm – 7pm

• Friday 12th to Sunday 21st – Wonderland Spiegeltent, Dixie Park, various shows and times, see Port Douglas Carnivale program for details

• Saturday 13th – Mossman Markets, 7am – 1pm

• Saturday 13th – Meteors Swim Club open day, 9am – 11am

• Sunday 14th – Port Douglas Sunday Markets, 8am – 1.30pm

• Monday 15th to Sunday 21st – Tropical Destinations Photography Exhibition, Port Douglas Community Hall

• Monday 15th May to 6th July – Free BreastScreen at Mossman Hospital

Sand Street works recommence

WORKS have resumed at the Sand Street pedestrian beach access track to Four Mile Beach.

Douglas Shire Council will replace the old wooden stairs with composite fibre stairs and a boardwalk.

Once complete, interpretative signs will be installed.

The pedestrian track is expected to be closed until mid to late May, however there are two alternative beach access tracks close by.

$50.8M

• Thursday 18th – Art Exhibition Opening – Go Troppo 2023, Sugar Wharf, 6pm

• Friday 19th to Sunday 21st – Go Troppo Art Exhibition, Sugar Wharf, 10am – 5pm daily

• Friday 19th to Sunday 21st – Port Douglas Music Trails, various times, and locations, see Port Douglas Carnivale program for details

• Friday 19th – Kids Disco Street Party, at the front of Rattle N’ Hum, 4:30pm – 6:30pm

• Friday 19th – Street Parade, Macrossan Street, from 4:30pm Fireworks at 8pm

• Saturday 20th – Mossman Markets, 7am – 1pm

• Saturday 20th – Family Beach Day, Four Mile Beach, from 9am

• Saturday 20th – Pooch Party, Jalunbu Park, 10am – 2pm

• Saturday 20th – FNQ Gin Fest, Crytalbrook Superyacht Marina, 12pm – 6pm

• Saturday 20th – Tropic Rock, ticketed show, see Port Douglas Carnivale program for details

• Sunday 21st – Port Douglas Sunday Markets, 8am – 1.30pm

• Sunday 21st –Seafood Extravaganza, Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, 12pm - 7pm

• Tuesday 23rd – Do it In Douglas Brekky – Celebrating the Sustainability Story, 7am – 10am

• Saturday 27th – Mossman Markets, 7am – 1pm

• Sunday 28th – Port Douglas Sunday Markets, 8am – 1.30pm

• Tuesday 30th – Douglas Shire Council Ordinary Council Meeting, 10am