Records

 Establishment of Council’s electronic records management system

 Migration of records from Cairns Regional Council

 Joint project to establish internal Intranet

 Co-ordinate electronic enquires received from Customers

Mayor & Councillors’ support

 Providing ongoing support to Mayor & Councillors

 Implemented “real time” minutes at Council Meetings

 Compliance with all statutory reporting requirements for the publish/production of Agendas & Minutes

Port Douglas Markets

Port Douglas Markets

 Comprehensive review commenced of current practices and future expansion of the markets

 EFTPOS introduced to the Port Douglas Markets improving the Market Coordinator’s safety and increasing efficiencies of operations

 Council maintains more than 140 stall holders.

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Film Locations Database

Back in April the CEO unit supported senior staff and Screen Queensland to discuss opportunities for Council to become more “film-friendly”, recognising the extensive economic benefits that would flow from increased filming activity in the Shire. Council signed up to Screen Queensland’s “Reel-Scout” software program enabling staff to load images directly to Screen Queensland’s film locations database - used by film and TV producers from around the world to source locations.

Staff uploaded more than 50 locations galleries on the Douglas Shire consisting of hundreds of images. In a very short time Douglas Shire Council had the largest gallery on Screen Queensland’s gallery in regional Queensland. Our aim is for Douglas Shire to be positioned as the premier film location in regional Australia.

Council has been integral in liaising with location scouts and producers of Pirates of the Caribbean 5, the most expensive film to ever be made in Australia. Council’s General Manager Operations Paul Hoye cut red tape and provided valuable insights on potential locations. Douglas Shire is confirmed as a filming location. Council has also provided information to the public on how to be a part of the Pirates of the Caribbean production as extras, on the production crew and providing services. (Above: Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), and Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in a scene from Pirates of the Caribbean – image Tourism News)

This initiative has already brought economic benefits and recognition for the Shire. Council has liaised with Screen Queensland to provide content on the Douglas Shire for an international roadshow and received interest from TV and film producers as a result of film locations database. Screen Queensland is negotiating with the producers of a new 26-episode 30-minute TV series, with Douglas Shire on the shortlist of locations.

“Pirates of the Caribbean 5 will be the biggest production ever filmed in Australia and of course we are delighted the franchise’s producers consider the Douglas Shire so highly”

Mayor Leu.

Seniors Week

In Seniors Week the Elders shared their stories with beading, art and morning tea.

The Daintree Forum provided an opportunity for the community to discuss issues north of the River.

Council received COTA (Council on the Ageing) funding and partnered with the Mossman Community Centre to host an intergenerational event attended by 30 community members.

Council contributed to the Seniors Lunch for 100 Douglas Seniors.

Crocodile Management Community Information Session

Staff organised and promoted a Crocodile Management Community Information Session at the Port Douglas Community Hall. More than 80 people attended as ranger and crocodile expert outlined the crocodile management plan for the Douglas Shire and the attributes of crocodile behaviour.

Finance

Finalisation of the de-amalgamation opening balances achieved.

Computer know-how and school holiday activities

In September the Library introduced the “Get to Grips with Computer Basics” classes. Local poet, Rob Hubbard, launched his poetry book, “Distinctively Daintree” and the many school holiday activities conducted by the Library were very popular.

Citizenship Ceremony

The September Citizenship Ceremony was conducted at the Mossman Shire Hall on National Citizenship Day. It was one of the largest citizenship ceremonies conducted in the Douglas Shire with 20 new citizens from countries as diverse as India, the Philippines, Peru, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, Sudan, Nepal, Italy, Canada, Thailand and New Zealand.

Green Teams

As part of Council’s Green Buildings Program the CEO Unit was responsible for implementing an initiative called ‘Switch Off at Work’ to reduce energy consumption by encouraging all staff members to turn off their computer monitors at the end of each day. Throughout the year staff will be encouraged to participate in further ‘green’ activities including taking part in Beach Clean Up days with local environmental organisations like Tangaroa Blue.

Council’s After Hours Service arrangement was successfully implemented this month. This service responds to telephone calls from residents outside of core business hours and directs the issue to relevant staff for actioning.

New trainee

Community Support Program

Council presented the Round One 2014/2015 Community Support Program grants in September enabling eleven local, not for profit organisations to share in over $50,000 in funding for community, sport & recreational and arts & cultural projects across the Shire.

One of the key focus areas of establishing the new Douglas was to provide opportunities for local residents to gain employment. As the Organisational Business Support Unit provides a diverse range of administrative functions, the recruitment for an administration trainee was undertaken and the successful applicant commenced their traineeship this month.

Syndicate Road Water Mains Upgrade

The construction of the new 100mm class 16 pipe water mains in Syndicate Road has commenced on the 9th of September and this 3.5km water main will be completed in December. The video clip below shows the Water Reticulation team in action on this capital project.

Making gains on Water Mains (Mossman Water Syndicate Rd) http://youtu.be/EUM1RnfWLK0

A new Service Contract was put in place for air-conditioners, fire equipment and generators.

…. and provided 50m3 mulch as in-kind support to the Mossman Gorge Community for vegetating roadside areas in September 2014.

Finance

The financial guidelines and systems for management of revenue, expenditure and claims under the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) were established.

Under the de-amalgamation process the fair value assessment of assets and liabilities transferred was finalised, together with the finalisation of the asset register.

Cyclone Ita restoration works

After the Daintree Ferry was damaged in Cyclone Ita (below top) a pile splice reo and pour was completed in September (below bottom).

Council provided bins and free waste disposal as in-kind support for the Great Northern Clean up in September 2014.

Council Foyer Arts Space

Art is an important part of cultural life in Douglas and the Council foyer comes alive with regular displays of works by local artists. The foyer is a vibrant artistic space – perfect for promoting local arts, cultural organisations and artists.

In October the Douglas Arts Base Textile Exhibition was opened.

Douglas Card

The new Douglas Card was introduced allowing free travel on the Daintree ferry for residents of the Douglas Shire, Cook Shire, Mareeba Shire, Cairns, Tablelands and Cassowary Local Government Areas between 1 November 2014 and 28 February 2015, encouraging increased visitation and promoting economic development in the Daintree.

To date approximately 750 cards have been issued. All approved applicants receiving their cards also received a promotional brochure developed by Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree in conjunction with participating businesses north of the Daintree River.

Information packs are provided by Ferry staff to any person

Crocodile Trophy

Council provided $20,000 in funding to host the finish of the Crocodile Trophy, an internationally-recognised mountain bike stage race that attracted 200 elite competitors from around the world. The Crocodile Trophy footage was shown to millions of viewers around the world, in particular western Europe.

presenting the old “Smart Card”.

Skate Park Street Art Project Launch

The Skate Park Street Art project was launched after Council was successful in its receiving grant funding grant from Suncorp Insurance and Queensland Police under the Safer Queensland Program, to prevent graffiti and anti-social behaviour. Council has engaged an aerosol artist to run workshops with local young people, building responsibility for public spaces by painting Skate Parks in Wonga Beach, Mossman and Port Douglas.

Daintree Gateway

Council gratefully acknowledges the award of grant funding from the Department of Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience to enable the first part of Stage 1 of the Daintree Gateway Project to start. Council is proud to have invited Yalanji artists to submit concepts for public art for Gateway entrance signage and new art for the Daintree Ferry, and to have worked with Kuku Yalanji Elders to develop new interpretive information for the kiosk near the public boat ramp near the approach to the ferry. New native gardens have been planted and are proposed, new toilets including an accessible toilet are scheduled for installation, and the “bus stop” on the northern side is to be refurbished.

Digging in for the Daintree Gateway (Open Spaces Daintree Gateway planting) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwxetu3uKiU

Could you survive for 3 days without food, power or water?

Get Ready Douglas Community Forums

A series of disaster resilience forums and school presentations were held throughout the Shire, from China Camp to Port Douglas, giving residents the opportunity to talk to Council and Emergency Services Personnel about preparedness for natural disasters and giving the LDMG the opportunity to learn more about the disaster response needs of each local community.

Council staff, Qld Fire and Emergency Services and China Camp (Buru) SES inspecting the UHF Repeater Tower near Wujal Wujal regarding the potential Emergency System for China Camp.

Douglas Shire Council provided free waste disposal as in-kind support for events initiated by Tangaroa Blue –including the Cape Kimberly Clean up in October 2014 and Snapper Island Clean up in November 2014.

Douglas Shire Water Laboratory

Microbiological parameters are tested one week by a NATA accredited Laboratory and three weeks by Douglas Shire (Colilert-18) Water laboratory. Colilert-18 has become the new International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standard 9308-2:2012 and detects a single viable coliform and E.coli per sample.

Proficiency testing started in August in the Douglas Water laboratory and 60 samples were analysed and compared with results obtained from the NATA laboratory. Proficiency testing was completed by 30 September. The Douglas Water lab has now successfully completed 5 weeks of regulatory analyses. Proficiency testing will be monthly and ongoing to ensure a functional and proficient water laboratory.

Testing, Testing H2O (by Samadhi, our Water Quality Technical Officer) http://youtu.be/IgaeOtzYaYo

Douglas Shire Council annually takes 2310 regulation water, wastewater and environmental samples to be analysed by a NATA accredited laboratory. A further 1400 potable water samples are annually taken to be analysed in the Douglas Water Laboratory to ensure compliance with the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.

Finance

Council received an Unmodified (Unqualified) Audit Opinion from the Qld Audit Office – Douglas was the first De-amalgamated Council to complete the financial audit.

Sewer infrastructure

The sewer relining project progressed well during the dry season and all camera investigations were completed. During October repair works were undertaken and completed in preparation for relining activities. Relining of the sewer network in Mudlo Street, Wharf Street, Sorrento Crescent, Solander Boulevard and Seabrook Avenue (Port Douglas) as well as in Pringle Street, Alchera Drive and Johnston Road (Mossman) has been completed.