General News
18 September, 2024
Shire has green credentials
A KEY Douglas Shire green group has asked Douglas Shire councillors to form a panel of environmental and conservation experts to help guide the area towards a sustainable future.
Douglas Shire Sustainability Group (DSSG) members Didge McDonald and Mike Berwick made a presentation at the last council meeting.
“DSSG is a community-based incorporated organisation with a current membership of around 70 people. We have a 20-year history in this community and our membership and support base are both passionate and knowledgeable about the issues affecting this place,” Mr McDonald said.
“Our affiliations with similar groups are on a local, state and national level. We believe that it is in the best interests of the community to work more productively together,” he said.
“In a community whose economy is based almost solely on its environmental assets it makes sense to work together.
“We recognise that the council has limited resources and a wide range of responsibilities.
“As a result the council has limited access to the expertise needed to properly manage those responsibilities. DSSG is prepared to engage with our networks to assist the council where appropriate.”
Mr Berwick listed some of DSSG current priorities:
Decarbonising the economy
The conservation and presentation of the Daintree Coast
Supporting the Indigenous ranger program
Containing urban development and the need for a regenerative agricultural economy
Sewering the beach communities currently on septic systems
The conservation and restoration of littoral forests, a critically endangered ecological community
The transfer of existing development rights from low lying coastal areas to higher ground.
“This is a shire where tourism, right now our only industry, is founded on the environment and we live in a global biodiversity hotspot,” Mr Berwick said.
He said the Shire was once a a leader in sustainable economic initiatives. “We think Douglas is in a position to regain that prominence, it will be great for tourism and potentially for agriculture too as countries are enacting carbon and nature border tariffs for food, fibre and manufactured goods,” he said.
Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said ‘transparency was very important to this council”.
She said the new council was committed to “doing our best for the community”.
