• Shelter won't meet infrastructure needs: Residents
  
• No room to move in current design

Questions are being raised over the adequacy of the newly approved cyclone shelter that will be built on Port Douglas State School land over the next 12 months.

The shelter, which is one of ten to be built in north Queensland, would have the capacity to secure up to 780 people for between 18-24 hours during an extreme weather event. But the issues surrounding how the building will be used and managed in fair weather are looming just as large as those to be dealt with in cyclonic conditions.

In a recent public meeting held at the school, those in attendance were told the shelter would be a "school facility for 99.999% of the time," and managed by the school, raising doubts about accessibility for the wider community - a key selling point when the announcement was made in July that Port Douglas had secured a shelter.

Another issue yet to be clarified is the appropriateness of members of the public accessing the completed site through school property, possibly during school hours.

The shelter's design, which is inherently the same as the nine other approved shelters, has also been criticised for not meeting the needs of the community.

Russell Jean, a resident who has been following the project closely, said the design does not take into account the town's lack of infrastructure.

"We need this building to be a proper community centre where we can have movies during the wet season, and basketball matches throughout the week. It needs to have a stage so there can be performances from the local theatre and dance groups.

"Places like Cairns, Townsville, and Mackay already have all of that infrastructure, but we don't. That's why we need to make sure that whatever is built meets the needs of the community. We'll only get one chance at this."

Steve Hull has also taken up the fight to ensure an appropriate multi-purpose centre is delivered. Mr Hull, an avid basketball fan, said that sports tourism in the area could be a major benefactor.

"I've had conversations with Cairns Taipans who have showed a willingness to come to Port Douglas for pre-season games and post-season clinics.

"These types of events will boost our economy and will only be possible with a more suitable design."

In an email from David Peate, Project Director for the DET (Department of Education and Training) Disaster Management Team, to Julia Brant, acting principal at Port Douglas State School, it was revealed that the project had little scope for change.

"DPW (Department of Public Works) informed him (Mr Jean) that they will be providing the shell only and that DET will be consulting with you as School Principal to determine any specific school community needs and that DET will then pay for costs to bring it up to the DET standard for a sports centre.

"DPW also informed him that there is no capacity to change the outside design and DET has limited funds for extra requirements."

In correspondence from the Office of Senator Jan McLucas to Mr Jean it identified "what appears to be a level of inflexibility surrounding the project."

Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, told The Newsport he had envisaged a design which could be developed into a larger facility with each new round of funding, however at the 3 August school meeting the group was told that this was not an option under the current project.

Mr Jean said that it was important for residents to act now to influence the decision making process and implored residents to contact their elected representatives and appeal for more funding to ensure the finished product meets community infrastructure needs.

Residents can contact Mr Jean on douglasregioncycloneshelter@gmail.com.

Home page image by christopherhunt.co.uk.

Related articles
Cyclone shelter revealed
Port wins evac centre
NOT GOOD ENOUGH!