| |
IMMEDIATE:
-
Shire Financial Sustainability & Stability
As a Council our 'JOB ONE' would be to work closely
with the Council CEO to review and sustain the
financial health of the Shire. Reviewing assets &
liabilities, resources, budget, spending, ongoing
costs to the New Shire, any pending Shire projects
contracted but not started or completed by the CRC
and any immediate infrastructure requirements. Over
the longer term, review community needed and wanted
projects however always keeping in mind the spending
limitations that could be in place. The end result
is to keep rate increases if required under control
and ensure the local government remains solvent and
stable. (back
>)
-
Maintain Quality Services Shire Wide
Quality services to maintain the smooth daily
operation is a 'must' for any Shire; especially ones
that affect tourism. I believe that local
contractors should be granted first option of
available opportunities. (back
>)
- Sustain and Enhance Tourism
Many Shire businesses believe that Tourism is the
life blood of the area. I agree that Tourism is one
of the biggest industries in the Shire. I believe
that Council has an obligation to look for ways to
be supportive to the industry. Council supplying
quality services is one method. Other methods are
developing campaigns with local tourism and business
associations. Funding will be required. And as with
any government funding, accountability and
measurements are required to ensure achievements. I
believe that a fair and balanced way of reviewing
and disbursing funds to enhance tourism should be
established by the new Council. (back
>)
- Sustain and Enhance Agriculture
Ask a man or woman who toils with their hands and
equipment on the land and they will tell you that
Agriculture is the life blood of the area. I agree
that Agriculture is also a very large industry of
the Shire. Council needs to work closely with the
sugar industry, the farming associations and the
agricultural community. Council should be seeking
ways to diversify agriculture as the Mareeba Shire
has worked on.
(back
>)
- Chemical Free Water
The community wants clean and chemically free water.
I do too. Water quality and safety is crucial to
both our healthy tropical lifestyle and the success
of the entire region as a first class tourist
destination. I believe that ‘chemical free water’ is
an important ‘selling point’, and an inherent part
of cherishing our pristine environment.
(back
>) (more
information)
- Douglas Shire Planning Scheme
The Douglas Shire is environmentally unique with two World Heritage Areas. The Douglas Shire Planning Scheme sets the direction for Council’s planning and
to interface between the development of the Shire and the management of the unique environmental resources.
I am always concerned that many who hold their hand up for election of an association, club or committee rarely read the documents that govern the body. Once elected they rarely review the rules and regulations to manage. The same could hold true of the candidates for Council. My competitors state that they want to ‘maintain and protect’ the growth of the shire. Many fail to realise that the Town Planning Scheme is a document of guidance to offer and
ensure an understanding of what it is to ‘maintain and protect’ and should be required reading for any candidate or elected official of the Shire. Below is a link for the current Town Planning Scheme for the Douglas Region. I encourage other potential candidates and all the community to read this document.
http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/building-planning-and-infrastructure/planning-schemes/current/douglas
(back
>)
- Encourage Business Diversification
There are so many opportunities to establish working
relationships with major businesses in Australia. As
an example the Shire could be 'pro software' and
invite software companies to establish satellite
extensions. The Shire could offer rate free
incentives for an agreed amount of years to
encourage development. The revenue loss would be
offset by new development for housing, construction
and local sales. Trickle down economics while
diversifying business in the Shire. (back
>)
- Expand
Daintree Gateway Plan and Support Power Installation
The Daintree Gateway Plan and power installation to
the Daintree debate has been going on far too long.
Council should not stand in the way to provide
enhancement of the region and electricity for
Daintree Businesses or Residents. An environmental
friendly plan to safely install power for the
Daintree community can be designed. Let's end the
on-going issues of energy poverty and generator
pollution that is harming the lives of people living
in the Daintree. The Daintree Gateway plan has good
intentions and the new Douglas Shire Council should
re-visit the direction of the plan and expand it to
include improvements for the Daintree Village to
enhance tourism.
(back
>)
- Engage Indigenous Leaders
Re-establish good communication and partnerships
with the Indigenous leaders of our Shire. I would
encourage that Councillors have regular meetings
with the indigenous community. (back
>)
- Working With the Community
Everyone in the Shire is entitled to their opinion.
A Council that is truly representative of the needs
and wants of the Shire should seek consultation with
the community on important issues that affect
everyone in the Douglas Shire. Council should be
engaged with the community through consultations and
website surveys where opinions, suggestions, and a
true sense of the community's wishes and concerns
are voiced and listened to. The new Council needs to
be balanced, open, receptive and work with tourism,
agriculture, indigenous, conservation and business
groups and businesses. Our community, our Shire, can
set the bar and bring renewed energy to the region
which will result in an increase in overall business
and future development. (back
>)
|
LONG
TERM:
-
Waterfront Development
A Waterfront Park could be a significant community
asset. It could also be one of the shires greatest
liabilities. The project needs be put on hold until
the Shire has full control of its assets and
spending. At the right time, the idea itself and all
design and location options need to be once again
discussed. Once we have made up our collective minds
and are ready to move ahead, fully united as a
Shire, we would need to vigorously pursue receiving
some major, and much deserved, State and Federal
government funding. (back
>) (more
information)
-
Positive Shire Negotiations with Developers
One of my strengths is to dissect and negotiate a
contract. I'm a 'stickler' when it comes to
following a contract or even a constitution. A
Council, looking out for the community, needs to
realise that there are impacts that new developments
bring. Negotiations with developers should include
the increased impact costings. (back
>)
-
Positive Working Relationship with Regional
Councils
In the interest of the community it is wise to have
good working relationships with our neighbouring
regional Councils. Networking through scheduled
meetings as a start can enhance relationships that
would be beneficial to the mutual operations of
Shire Councils.
(back
>)
- A More Diplomatic Council
The key to any successful business is the Staff that
supports it. A Council is a business. A good
business has a Staff that represents the business
interests as ambassadors. While it is the
responsibility of Council and its Staff to maintain
and uphold laws governing a Shire it should also be
diplomatic - friendly, open, informative, helpful
and without a controlling attitude. Far too often a
Council is referred to as the 'bad guys'. That's
understandable to some measure. However, a Council
that is kinder and gentler in its approach to public
issues and needs will have a community working more
cohesively for the end goals of the Shire as a
whole. (back
>)
- Plastic Bag Free Shire by 2016
Plastic bag litter kills wildlife. The bags clog our
landfill. Plastic squanders fossil fuels. Per the
good people at www.cleanup.org.au Australians throw
away about 7,150 recyclable plastic bags a minute,
with 429,000 recyclable plastic supermarket bags
dumped into landfills every hour. Out of control.
With the reef and the rainforest in our locale, the
Shire should do its part in controlling this
ecological disaster. The new Council should be of
one mind and voice endorsing the elimination of
plastic bags in the Shire with community
consultation on how to achieve this. (back
>)
-
A united Council, petitioning Federal
Government – NBN roll out
The NBN rollout will reach Cairns and neighbouring
towns within the next 12 months. There is no mention
as to when Port Douglas or Mossman will enjoy
enhanced internet speed. Discussions with an NBN
representative offered that Port Douglas hasn't been
reviewed and that the connection and lines are to be
drawn down from Julatten instead. As a Councillor I
would encourage the Council to petition the Federal
Government to require a reasonable time table for
installation to the Douglas Shire. (back
>)
-
Support Douglas Shire Entertainment/Sports Events to
Increase Visitors
Improving the 'draw' to the region can be enhanced
by Shire and private sponsored entertainment and
sport events that will expand tourism throughout the
Shire. The new Council should embrace, support and
find ways to work with new events being introduced
by engaging with outside entertainment and sporting
event companies. As a Council Representative I would
be in favour of an Annual Music Fest that would
compete on the same level as Byron Bay's 'Splendour
In The Grass'. (back
>)
- Macrossan Street Traffic
In my business travels throughout Australia I have
noticed that some towns are more pedestrian
conscious than others. In some towns the crosswalk
is recommended to pedestrians and motorists are
required to stop. In Port it is a free for all. Some
pedestrians walk around without a care or
consideration of traffic seeming oblivious to
traffic conditions. I am surprised that more
accidents have not happened. Over the past two years
I have read about the interest in having Macrossan
Street a car free zone. I think that is something
that should be explored through community
consultation whether a permanent “car free zone” or
just certain hours and how this would affect
Macrossan Street businesses including accommodation.
(back
>)
-
Review Referendums for the Community on Major
Changes
We're all in this together. We went to the polls,
cast our votes and the end result is that a New
Shire has been established. In that the community
should have 'hands on' - 'voices heard' priority
when it comes to major changes for and within the
Shire. Many don't believe that a survey or
consultation is the best way. Others encourage
surveys and consultations to gain insights. I favour
any manner that feedback can be gained from the
community to make good judgements. In some cases a
call for a 'referendum' is the best answer to gain
approval for a Council to act. Yes, there is a cost
for the set up and implementation but the end result
is what the majority of the community wants.
(back
>)
- Community
Internet Communications
The community wants and needs to be heard.
Communication will be the success or failure of the
New Douglas Shire. An effective, trusted manner of
electronic communication needs to be set up to
ensure that the community and Council are exchanging
opinions and views. Far too often we have spent
hours in community meetings and found that nothing
came from the time invested. With electronic
communications, online surveys, discussion groups,
even online meetings can be held. The key to the
success of this process would be the method of
notification to ensure the most participants online.
(back
>)
-
Mental Health Awareness & Suicide Prevention
I would like to see Council embrace and be
supportive of Mental Health Awareness in promoting
social and emotional wellbeing within the community,
encouraging people to maximise their health
potential, enhancing the coping capacity of
communities, families, individuals and increasing
mental health recovery. (back
>)
-
Support the Application for Funding of the Mossman
Aged Care Facility
While this matter is outside of Council jurisdiction
and financial responsibility it is a matter of moral
support. As a councillor I would support the Mossman
aged care facility. I would encourage other
councillors to be supportive. I would seek that
Council as a body stood together in supporting the
Mossman aged care facility. (back
>)
-
WIFI FREE HOTSPOTS – Port Douglas, Mossman and
Daintree Village
The installation of Free WIFI Hotspots in Port
Douglas, Mossman & the Daintree Village with good
marketing is a ‘draw card’ for regional Tourism with
minimal investment. I would support Council hiring a
qualified internet supplier with a history of
region/town WIFI Hostspot installations to prepare a
proposal to define costs of installation and monthly
costs. Estimated expenditure for a proposal would be
less than $10,000. The proposal would define HOTSPOT
coverage analysis inclusive of transmitter and
repeator installations, data usage, related on-going
costs and define usage restrictions to minimize
potential abuse. (back
>)
-
CCTV - Port Douglas and Mossman
CCTV is a two sided consideration: sending a
signal that our streets are not safe or, our streets
are safe due to surveillance. The local police would
be appreciative if CCTV cameras were installed. (more)
|
|
Do you have issues regarding the Douglas Shire that you
think are important?
Let's start the conversation!
email:
richard@richardlavender.com
OR
|
|
|
