Renewed focus on water security, following flood catastrophe for Douglas Shire Council

Douglas Shire suffered significant damage in more ways than one in the December floods and council’s latest budget is fixed on water security and road repair and includes a rate rise.

Douglas Shire has been changed forever as a result of devastating floods but will demonstrate its resilience and bounce back with new vibrancy.

That’s according to recently-elected Mayor Lisa Scomazzon, who handed down the 2024-25 budget this week.

Rates will increase by 5.94 per cent, compared with Cairns Regional Council on 6.7 per cent.

Unlike Cairns, Douglas Shire has 23 rate categories with the main divide being resident ratepayers and non-resident ratepayers, a concept Cairns Regional Council has floated.

Deputy Mayor Lisa Scommazon said the December flood had devastating consequences and there would be a renewed emphasis on water security in the 2024-25 budget. Picture: Supplied

Ms Scomazzon said the average general rate rise would be about $1 per week or $66 per annum for residents and $2 per week or $108 per annum where a ratepayer did not live at the address.

She said the budget had proven to be an extraordinary number-crunching exercise for council.

“Douglas Shire has been changed forever due to the devastating power of mother nature,” Cr Scomazzon said.

The region was by far the hardest hit in post-Tropical Cyclone Jasper flooding, accessing Queensland Recovery Authority funds of more than $25m.

The tourist mecca of Port Douglas suffered reputational damage with water issues and severely damaged roads from the December flood. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“Following Jasper, 3.2m of rain was recorded in less than a week and a total of 4.2m in the space of two months,” she said.

“It led to major flooding, landslips, overnight evacuations, homes being destroyed, water infrastructure being damaged and roads collapsing.

“Water supply is another key area of focus in this budget,” Ms Scomazzon said.

“The flooding in December highlighted how the region’s water security can be threatened in extreme circumstances.

“When the taps, toilets and showers ran dry our tourism sector suffered reputational damage and our lifestyle was compromised.”

Douglas Shire can bounce back from a natural disaster and become more vibrant than ever, Cr Liza Scomazzon said. Picture: Supplied

She said council’s $7m water supply investment reflected the need to improve water security if a disaster of that magnitude happened again.

“I believe that we have managed to get the best result we can to keep the broader general rate rise for residents as low as possible while committing to maintaining service levels,” Ms Scomazzon said.

The roads budget is $15.1m with $8.10m set aside for repairing unsealed roads from Daintree to Cape Tribulation and $3.32m for south Daintree roads, along with $800,000 for ferry landslide improvement.

There’s an extra $1.56m for Port Douglas Aquatic Precinct, a project put well on the back burner because of the flood.

Council is inviting residents who don’t receive a state government rate subsidy to apply for a subsidy available through council.

And, in a quirk typical of a Queensland coastal town, among the 22 rate categories is one for fishing huts around the south arm and or head of the Daintree River – they get 50 per cent off.

Originally published as Renewed focus on water security, following flood catastrophe for Douglas Shire Council