If Port Douglas was a cartoon character it could very well be Two Face from the Batman comics.

Why? Because for all the generosity the town displays time and time again when there are people in need, there is a darker side which is slowly eroding the prosperity of our sleepy village by the sea.

This darker side, from my viewpoint, is the factions which operate within the town, and divides the town's people. The effect of this division is amplified as the economic pressures of individuals increase.

Residents are leaving our town, driven out by a lack of visitors, or I should say a lack of visitor spending. Receiver's sale signs are becoming the norm, and even the most experienced business people are not immune.

There is no shortage of places where we are happy to lay the blame - The high Aussie dollar, the weather, the airlines, the tourism body, the Chamber of Commerce, governments at all levels, the GFC, the bloke down the road.

While there is no controlling the uncontrollables, what we can control is our attitude and our actions.

The personal grudges held between individuals in Port Douglas are evident, and in some cases legendary, and from what I hear money and business is often at the root of the issue.

But at a time where it seems we can't rely on outside help, it is the people we don't see eye to eye with that we need to join forces with to get out of the quagmire.

The town has some very savvy business people who bring with them valuable experience, and the intelligence to know that the way we do things needs to change - and fast - if we are to experience future prosperity.

We have resources like Barney Marris from Back Country Bliss who has done a fantastic job in promoting his business and is passionate about the region, as is Steve Edmondson from Poseidon/Sailaway who travels the world on his own money to promote the area.

Terry Murphy is wrapping up the second Port Douglas Black Marlin Challenge and in doing so is attracting around 100 high net worth people to town in November, and (dare I say it) my bosses who also run Port Douglas Event Management and who see the value in giving people another reason to come to the region.

TPDD's executive officer, Doug Ryan, has over two decades of experience in the tourism industry so has a big role to play in bringing this town back from the brink.

There are, no doubt, a number of others who given the chance could lead the town in a fresh direction - one of unity rather than division. This doesn't mean we have to love everyone, just accept that we are reliant on each other to succeed.

There is no shortage of passion (or rhetoric about working together), only it seems, true cooperation and leadership.

So who will take the lead role in bringing the town together and laying a path for the future?  

Image by thefilmstage.com.

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