Former Douglas Shire mayor Mike Berwick says Daintree bridge debate should be dead and buried

A former Far North mayor has called for an end to the ‘divisive’ development flirtation of the world’s oldest rainforest.

A FORMER Douglas Shire mayor has called for an end to the development flirtation with the world’s oldest rainforest and pleaded for money to instead be poured into its protection.

Conservation warrior Mike Berwick said he was relieved Douglas Shire Council appeared unlikely to investigate a bridge across the Daintree River after a public survey revealed more people preferred a ferry service.

Mr Berwick, who famously led the Daintree Blockade in 1983, said the debate had caused unnecessary division among the Far North community but he hoped the matter had been laid to rest for good.

Mike Berwick, pictured here conducting a TED Talk at the James Cook University in Cairns, says the Daintree Rainforest needs protection, not development.

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“The clear message from the public is they want to look after the natural aspects of the Daintree, not develop it,” he said.

“The whole question about whether we need a bridge or not was a shocker, really.

“If you took a poll across Australia and the world whether we should develop or preserve one of the great natural assets on the planet, the results would be very one-sided.

“Maybe it’s time we just stop trying to and make conservation our priority investment.”

A Douglas Shire conservation group has launched a Save the Daintree Again campaign in response to a potential bridge being built across the Daintree River. Picture: Supplied

It comes as Dr Steve Turton, an environment professor at the Central Queensland University, said a bridge over the Daintree River would have been the beginning of “a death by a thousand cuts” for the World Heritage site.

Douglas Shire councillors will vote on a recommendation for the crossing at a meeting on December 15, with Mayor Michael Kerr already declaring he will vote for the introduction of a second solar-powered ferry.

Mr Berwick backed the idea “when it’s needed” and also called for a priority lane for locals to be developed on the northern side of the river.

“We may not need a second ferry for a few years now given the coronavirus situation, so it’s probably wise to put it on ice,” he said.

“But I do think we need a new solar-powered ferry and we should be looking at putting better traffic management in place.

“A sophisticated booking system would help.”

Council holds a $4m reserve fund, which is expected to be used to fund the $2.8m ferry.

Originally published as Former Douglas Shire mayor Mike Berwick says Daintree bridge debate should be dead and buried