Cooktown's events and recovery centre has become a vital part of the community according to Cook Shire Mayor, Peter Scott. But questions over the design, approval process, and ongoing management for the Port Douglas shelter may hinder the same from happening here.

Comparisons between the yet to be built Port Douglas cyclone shelter and the facility in Cooktown have been a talking point since the State Government's approval announcement in July.

But there are a number of distinct differences between the two, not least of all their primary purposes.

"We had been looking for a community type facility for the last 30 years but if you go back 10 years it started life as an indoor sports and recreation centre," Mayor Scott said.

"We needed something for the kids in the wet season.

"It evolved over the years...this was through a great deal of community consultation and our steering committee.

"We identified other needs like a gym and meeting rooms, but doubling up so it could be a conference facility as well."

Mayor Scott said the Cooktown facility, which holds up to 1,000 people, was upgraded to become a category 5 facility as opposed to being originally built for this purpose.

Significantly, he added that the majority of residents in the Cooktown area (Cooktown's population is 2300) would remain at home during a severe weather event rather than use the centre for shelter. During Cyclone Yasi, residents and visitors in Port Douglas were urged to evacuate for fear of an anticipated storm surge.

"We work on the basis that during a cyclone everyone is at home in their houses in a small room under a mattress. It's more to be used as a recovery centre," Mayor Scott said.

"We've got probably, maximum, a dozen people who could be at risk if we had a three metre tidal surge. And then you'd also need to identify elderly people or frail people or people living in very old homes who couldn't move in with their neighbours or family.

"So at maximum, during an event, you might have 20 people in that cyclone shelter, whereas yours (Port Douglas' shelter) is different."

The new Port Douglas facility will shelter up to 780 people for 18-24 hours during a cyclone. 

Mayor Scott said that while he understands residents in Port Douglas would like a facility that meets the needs of everyone, funding limitations make this difficult.

"Ours cost us $10 million, but in real terms, because of the amount Council put in in-kind, you could say $12 million.

"You can't compare ours with yours and say 'we should be getting that'...if you've got $6 million you build something that's worth $6 million."

Some members of the Port Douglas community have stressed their concerns over the lack of community consultation, and that management of the new Port Douglas cyclone shelter (outside a severe weather event) will be the sole responsibility of the Port Douglas State School, raising the issue of public access.

When asked if it was important for the shelter to be managed by a cross section of the community, Mayor Scott answered "Definitely".

He said that Cook Shire Council currently manages their centre but will soon hand this responsibility to a PCYC group.

He also stressed the importance of having a commercially viable centre. Cooktown's facility has been used for expos, shows, sporting events, and even a funeral for a well know community member.

"What's exciting is that the community has just embraced this thing," Mayor Scott said.

Acting principal of Port Douglas State School, Julia Brant, was unavailable for comment.