FREE BBQ BREAKFAST AT AUSTRALIA DAY AWARD CEREMONY
AN AUSSIE sizzle will help celebrate our local community with a free barbecue breakfast and the return of a public ceremony on Australia Day this month.
Douglas Shire Council will host the 2023 Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony at the Port Douglas Community Hall on Thursday 26 January.
The public ceremony returns after it was cancelled and moved online last year due to COVID restrictions.
Mossman and Port Douglas Friends of the Hospital Foundation will host the free barbecue breakfast from 7.30am.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr encouraged the community to show up and celebrate the region’s unsung achievers.
“Australia Day Awards is one of my favourite civic events of the year because we all get to stop and recognise those people who make a real contribution to our community,” he said.
“As always, we had some incredible names put forward for a 2023 award and we are all very excited to celebrate them.”
“The video of the 2022 ceremony was viewed more than 540 times so I am expecting a big turnout from people across the shire.”
The Mossman Pool will also host a free community event on Australia Day from 11am to 3pm. See Council’s website for more details.
All events are open to the general public.
Key Times: 7:30am – Free BBQ Breakfast
9:30am – Citizenship Ceremony – Followed by the Australia Day Awards
COUNCIL GRANT TO HELP CREATE OFFSHORE EDUCATION CENTRE ON LOW ISLES
A PROPOSAL to create an offshore education centre at Low Isles, 15km off the coast of Port Douglas, has received backing from Douglas Shire Council through a community grant.
Council awarded $1330 to the Low Isles Preservation Society (LIPS) to help them revamp research facilities to be used for education programs.
LIPS is working with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and other stakeholders to take a more proactive role in educating the community on the health and resilience of the reef, and how that impacts
on the whole community.
Low Isles is a four-acre coral cay surrounded by 55 acres of reef and is a popular snorkelling destination.
Council received nine applications for funding in this year’s major grants program and three were successful.
Port Douglas Tennis Club will also receive grant funding to install a mini court surface for pickleball tennis, while Reuben Dwyer received funding to record, produce, and create a compilation album of Mossman’s best undiscovered indigenous musicians.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said
the successful projects would be fantastic additions to the local community.
“Once again our community showed there are a several terrific grassroots ideas out there to enhance the lives of locals,” he said.
“All three successful projects are great initiatives that provide a community benefit and encourage locals to get involved.”
“I would like to also thank the unsuccessful applicants for taking the time to apply for funding and wish them the best of luck with their projects.”
The successful projects include:
• Port Douglas Tennis Club – Pickle Ball Court and Program: Install mini court surface over existing slab.
• Reuben Dwyer – Indigenous Artist
Recording: To create opportunities for Mossman’s indigenous musicians.
• Low Isle Preservation Society – Education Centre: Create an Education Centre on Low Isles to function as an offshore classroom for Douglas Shire students. The 2023 Grant Funding round will re-open to eligible applicants later this year. Visit Council’s website here for more information.
Cairns Local News, Friday, January 13, 2023 PAGE 13 www.cairnslocalnews.com.au
JAN 13 | 2023
Deputy Mayor Lisa Scomazzon and Mayor Michael Kerr with 2021 Volunteer of the Year, Craig Mitchell.
THE Douglas Shire community turned out in force for a rain-affected Douglas Christmas Street Party last month. Many smiles and Christmas spirit were on display at Front Street, Mossman for the annual event on Friday 19 December 2022.
Unfortunately, Santa and his reindeers could not make it to the sugarcane town due to heavy rainfall and lightning, which led to an early finish of the free community event.
Douglas Shire Council would like to thank everyone who supported the event, and our amazing sponsors and stallholders who made the event possible.
PAGE 14 Cairns Local News, Friday, January 13, 2023 www.cairnslocalnews.com.au YOUR DOUGLAS NEWS Jan 13, 2023 CHRISTMAS IN THE TROPICS Upcoming Daintree Ferry Temporary Closure Stops: 12:01am, Monday 6th Starts: 5am, Saturday 11th March 2023 - Mandatory inspection For more information, please visit Council's website or call 4099 9444 The five-day closure is for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) out-of-water inspection Further details about the temporary closure will be available soon Daytime passenger ferry will be available
Cairns Local News, Friday, January 13, 2023 PAGE 15 www.cairnslocalnews.com.au YOUR DOUGLAS NEWS Jan 13, 2023 Australia Day Celebrations Port Douglas Community Hall AUSTRALIA DAY Thursday 26 January 7:30am - Free BBQ Breakfast 9:30am - Citizenship Ceremony followed by Australia Day Awards PORT DOUGLAS WELCOMES 2023 Douglas Shire Council has identified two potential locations for the new splash park: • Jalunbu Park in Garrick Street, or • Reynolds Park in Davidson Street We are planning engagement activities in early 2023 to get your feedback on which is best and why. Follow the QR code or search for Port Douglas Aquatic Precinct on Council’s website to access the project page. There you can sign up to our mailing list to keep updated on upcoming events and opportunities to have your say. Enquiries: 4099 9414 or email gaye.scott@douglas.qld.gov.au Where should the Port Douglas Aquatic Precinct be located? have your say A GREAT night was enjoyed by all in Port
Families came early to set up their blankets and picnic baskets to see the 8pm family friendly fireworks display. The
included a kids disco and DJ, UV glow lighting, face painting, and food and drink stalls.
Douglas at the Family Friendly New Years’ Eve Celebrations on Saturday 31 December 2022.
popular event
Revised Budget Highlights Grant Funding Success
NEW cycleways, road upgrades and floodway improvements feature in a $7.8 million package of grant-funded projects listed in the revised 2022-23 Annual Budget.
Douglas Shire Council has adopted the revised budget, which sees its operating deficit improve by more than $2 million on initial forecasts.
The improved position is due to increases to Council’s revenue and sound planning, taking the deficit to $665,796 – compared to the previously budgeted $2.78M deficit.
Kerr said he was pleased with the improved result and Council’s success in securing significant grant funding for capital works projects.
“The revised budget contains $2.6M worth of extra grant funding to go towards projects for the community,” he said.
“This is a fantastic result which allows Council to upgrade and build new infrastructure without burdening the ratepayer.”
“The improved financial forecast is also testament to Council’s commitment
to
Craft session catches the attention of Douglas Locals
DOUGLAS Libraries hosted a booked-out session at the Mossman Library last month where people learned how to create papercraft window catchers.
Window catchers create colourful light which dances around and deters birds from hitting the glass.
The session was run by Danielle Harte and attended by people aged 10 and up.
Douglas Libraries has received really positive feedback and everyone enjoyed the colour, craft and different designs.
Stay tuned at the Douglas Libraries website for more events and activities.
https://douglas.qld.gov. au/libraries
Key capital projects include the $2.4M Pedestrian Cycleway Bridge & Pathway between Kubirri Aged Care Centre and Mossman Gorge Centre, $923K in floodway improvements, $900K to finalise Warner St and Mowbray St trunk drainage and $310K towards further work on the Alexandra Range, to a name a few.
To read the full revised budget, please visit Council’s website.
Conditions
PAGE 16 Cairns Local News, Friday, January 13, 2023 www.cairnslocalnews.com.au 07 4099 9444 | PO Box 723, Mossman Q 4873 enquiries@douglas.qld.gov.au | douglas.qld.gov.au YOUR DOUGLAS NEWS Jan 13, 2023 Port Douglas Sunday Markets, 8am – 1.30pm • Thursday 26thAustralia Day Awards free BBQ Breakfast, 7.30am, Port Douglas Community Hall Mossman Markets, 7am – 1pm • Sunday 30thPort Douglas Sunday Markets, 8am – 1.30pm
Check Road
& Flood Cameras at Douglas Dashboard dashboard.douglas.qld.gov.au
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael
make long-term financial decisions to ensure a sound financial position for future generations.”A section of road where the $2.4M shared cycleway between Mossman CBD and Mossman Gorge will travel through