Local Laws and Environmental Health

We’re Here to Help (Council’s Local Laws & Environmental Health Team) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfz_uPPLHgE

Council’s team of 9 officers are responsible for: Local Laws

The local laws team implement, monitor and ensure compliance with various laws including Council’s Local Laws and other regulatory provisions. We undertake enforcement in line with Council’s values and priorities; and Environmental Health

Environmental health is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. Douglas EHO’s achieve this through applying Local Laws and State legislation aimed at protecting environmental health with a focus on public health including food safety, communicable diseases, and environmental protection.

At the Library Gemma Deavin from ABC Open Learning conducted workshops on “Getting to know your digital camera” and “the art of online writing and blogging”.

National Recycle Week

To promote National Recycle Week the CEO unit reinstated a general public recycle toner cartridge and mobile phone program at Council. Members of the general public can now drop off these recyclable items at the foyer of the Council Administration Building. A separate recycle toner cartridge program has been established with the supplier company for the specific cartridges used by Council. A fundraising program for the recycling of phones was implemented with all funds raised to go to the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal.

Mayor’s Christmas Appeal

Tax Deductibility for the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal was announced with deliveries to be made on 11 December to families in need with children 15 years and under.

Remembrance Day

Staff assisted the Mossman RSL Sub-Branch to conduct the Remembrance Day ceremony at Council’s Mossman Administration Building.

Australian Reconciliation Network

Council Officer – Brendan Leishman was one of two people in Queensland invited to attend and represent Queensland at the Australian Reconciliation Network – a wonderful opportunity to showcase Council initiatives and commitment to reconciliation.

Australia Day Awards

(L) Launch of the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal with representatives from Douglas Shire Community Services Association, Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre the inaugural donation from Friends of Douglas Shire (FODS).

The 2015 nominations for Australia Day awards close on 19 December.

Extreme Weather: Disaster Resilience Photo Competition and Exhibition

Members of the public were asked to send in photos of extreme weather events to build community resilience to natural disasters. Recognising the hazards that exist in the region encourages the community to be better prepared and more resilient when natural disasters occur. We have aimed to show people that dangerous weather events do happen here and that it doesn’t take a direct hit by a major cyclone to cause damage to cars and houses.

The exhibition in the Council foyer includes 31 local images under two categories: weather event and community response.

The photographers have given permission for Council to use their images in future disaster resilience work: making banners and signs much more relevant for local people by using local images.

Playground equipment for the kids of Cape Trib

Surrounded by National Park a suitable site for the Cape Trib playground equipment purchased more than three years ago seemed impossible but staff persevered and with the endorsement of the Cape Trib mums and dads, a terrific spot was finally found. The kids of Cape Trib are now set to have a ball.

Rex Creek Water Intake Upgrade

Work is continuing with the installation of the stainless steel lining in the intake race which is now in its final stages with an estimate completion date of middle December. There has been a significant improvement in water flow across the intake screens since the installation of the new lining. The Water Quality and Reticulation teams deserve recognition for their tireless efforts to restore satisfactory levels of treated water in reservoirs after each water intake shutdown during the installation of the lining. Before and after photos are included below with a video clip by the Team Leader Mark Howarth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-mLuhR_NYo

Council provided mulch as in-kind support to St Augustine’s Primary School in November 2014.

Free green waste disposal was available to residents within the Douglas region at accepting Transfer Stations.

In November Council had the privilege of hosting the LGMA Rural Management Challenge for North Queensland. There were 7 teams participating from Councils as far away as Townsville and Charters Towers, including the "Knights of Camelot" from Douglas.

The Challenge was a great opportunity for officers to broaden their understanding and appreciation of the roles of other areas of council and the issues that are managed by a variety of staff every day. The Challenge also provided the opportunity for skill development which included team building, cross council collaboration, communication and presentation skills along with managing resources and time.

Finance

Water Usage Notices and the Grants Commission Return were submitted on time and the Community Financial Report included in the Annual Report.

The Fitbit challenge

The 12 week outdoor staff Fitbit Challenge finished this month with 18 staff walking an incredible 12,280,644 steps or 5,380 kms in an effort to improve their fitness. The Council program led by Darren (below) was recognised with an Award of $5000 from the Local Government Association of Queensland while staff raised money for local charities.

A cheque for $430 in sponsorship raised by one nursery staff member was presented to Paws & Claws in December, with a commitment to provide Council labour to the same value to help this much loved organisation.

Christmas in Douglas

A five-year plan for Community Christmas celebrations in the Douglas Shire was developed. For 2014 Council arranged a new Christmas street banner for Port Douglas and has decorated community Christmas trees in Port Douglas and Mossman. Each tree features more than 2500 solar-powered fairy lights and 50 decorations at a value of more than $4500. Five Council departments were coordinated and involved in decorating and lighting the trees. Council gratefully acknowledged the local businesses, including Kelly’s Crane Hire, that so generously donated their expertise and equipment to ensure the community Christmas trees are sustainable.

The first day of December saw the traditional decorations installed in both Mossman and Port Douglas.

Daintree Gateway progresses

In the first week of December the nursery team planted the first native garden at the Daintree Gateway. Two days later it was soaked with 50mm of rain.

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

Christmas Party in the Park

Council funded event run by Douglas Shire Community Services Association Inc at George Davis Park (Bubu Kinkarri).

Christmas Day Lunch

Council will support lunch run by Douglas Shire Community Services Association Inc at the Mossman Shire Hall.

In kind support for community events

Council provided bins as in-kind support to the Douglas Shire Community Services Association for the free Community Christmas in the Park in George Davis Park.

Free mulch is offered to residents throughout the Douglas region from participating Transfer Stations.

Celebrating our communities

“Nganamu Bubu Kunbul” (Our Community Celebration - Eastern Kuku Yalanji)

“Nganyji Paman-ku Manyjirri-l” (Celebrating for the People/Community - Yirrganydji)

Council’s Corporate Plan recognises that with a diverse range of communities throughout the region, it is essential to value cultural identity, heritage and inclusiveness, embracing opportunities to work in collaboration with our communities to celebrate our successes, talents and uniqueness.

In December, Council staff and the Mossman Elders Justice Group, together with Tangaroa Blue, held the first Mossman waterways clean-up at Foxton Park. Representatives from the Elder’s Justice Group and Council were joined by two Police Liaison Officers and eight community members to clean up litter from the park and waterway.

Upgrades to the Killaloe Landfill

Preparation for the wet season at Killaloe Landfill included the concreting of spillways and associated earthworks to ensure stormwater is appropriately managed on site.

Council’s Civil Works Construction Team constructed a new concrete causeway in the Mowbray Valley in November and December. The new causeway replaces an old gravel causeway that was washed away three times earlier in the year. The causeway upgrade was part of Council’s flood mitigation works with the State Government contributing 40% of the funding.

http://youtu.be/DJ9tFi7mzDc