General News
14 April, 2025
Councillors make decisions on a wide range of proposals
PORT Douglas Neighbourhood Centre has been granted a lease spanning over 20 years, rather than the previous 10 year arrangement at the last Douglas Shire Council meeting.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the Port Douglas Community Service Network, as a whole, did such a great job for the community, including the NicNak Shed, plus helping people with financial assistance and other vital support services.
“They are just a great not-for-profit organisation in our Shire,” she said.
The council is also currently seeking government grant money in order to employ a community recovery and resilience officer who will help the community in recovery.
“We’ve been through a national disaster and every time it rains, people are wondering how long will this last and will we have flooding again?,” Cr Scomazzon said.
“This officer will look at different types of activities and bring the community together.
“As well as Mossman and other parts of the Shire, we had a major flooding impact in Degarra during Cyclone Jasper.
“Today, people are still not in their homes and are living in caravans.”
The council is also seeking grant money to complete an ‘Ergon Assets Art Program’, with up to $30,000 available.
The idea of the program is to assist locals in painting the local green Ergon boxes in different ways, representative to the area.
“This artwork could include history about our sugar cane and Indigenous artwork as an example,” Cr Scomazzon said.
Councillors also agreed to the amalgamation of two lots in Mossman, which will pave the way to the District Arts Studio Gallery Inc (DAB) acquiring more space, including the building of a new shed for extra classes.
“Not-for-profit DAB have really grown in the last few years, so they need that extra space out the back to expand their classes,” Cr Scomazzon said.
“It’s a great move forward for them looking to the future,” she said.
Read More: Mossman
