The Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce will work with local businesses to ensure they make a considered decision come de-amalgamation referendum time.

President of the Chamber Phoebe Kitto said she had expected the Queensland Government to take the issue to a referendum despite the Boundaries Commissioner giving a re-formed Douglas Shire Council the thumbs down.

"I think the community was really calling for a referendum so I'm not surprised. It was an election promise so it's good to see them coming through with regards to it," Ms Kitto said.

"Now it's really up to the community to understand the issues and understand the impacts and then we can make the decision. We're going to be responsible for our own future."

Ms Kitto urged voters not to get bogged down on the current make-up of the Cairns Regional Council, or even the people who may eventually form a Douglas Shire Council.

"It's important that we look at it, not just in the short term, but over the long term," she said.

"We have to make a decision which is going to have a very long term impact so we can't just base it on the councillors and the people that are here now, it needs to be bigger than that.

"Councillors will turn over, we'll have good councils and bad councils. It's what the potential capacity is over the long term."

Ms Kitto said the Chamber will be assessing the "pros and cons" of de-amalgamation on local businesses.

"What is going to be the impact on rates for us? What resources are we going to have and our ability to fund projects? So the financial sustainability of the Council is going to be a big one.

"Another one will be the pros and cons of what could happen with regards to funding for TPDD (Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree)."

Ms Kitto said the Chamber would stay in close contact with its members, but would not try and influence their decision one way or another.

"As a Chamber we need to make the decision as to whether we're going to have a stance for or against, or whether we're going to be a platform for providing information.

"As an example in an election we never tell you which way you should vote, but it's important we tell people what the pros and cons are going to be.

"That's a discussion we need to have as a committee."

Speaking somewhat against the flow of vocal pro-de-amalgamation supporters, former Chamber president and current committee member Ken Dobbs aired his personal views on the issue on The Newsport article 'The Viewpoint - Get Your Blinkers Off' (Tuesday 11 December 2012).

"I must challenge the statement that most see the amalgamation with Cairns as a debacle. Councils provide services - roads, vegetation management, garbage, water, libraries, town planning, support of arts and events. Most of these services have been provided at equal or better standard than was done prior to amalgamation.

"Capital works in Port Douglas has far exceeded that undertaken pre amalgamation. There has  been some concern about water but the standards in this area have been imposed by Queensland Health not Cairns Regional Council and de amalgamation will not change this.

"I cannot see how paying an extra $700 per year for no improvement in services is justified. The issue of identity has been promoted as a significant reason for de amalgamation. Councils do not create the identify for a community nor can they take it away.

"Mossman, Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation all have unique identities and that does not require separate councils to retain the identity.

"Council's provide services and infrastructure and these can be provided most efficiently by remaining as part of a larger entity of Cairns Regional Council.

"All Councils fail to meet all the expectations of the community they serve because it is impossible to please everyone. The former Douglas Shire Council did many good things but there were many things it did not do so well. Going back to it will create as many problems as it will solve but at a high cost."

Friends Of Douglas Shire have criticised a disclaimer contained in a Queensland Treasury Corporation report (on which the Boundaries Commissioner based his decision to not recommend de-amalgamation) which says QTC had not independently verified the information supplied to it by third parties.

Mr Dobbs defended the report.

"It is normal practice in these situations to provide a disclaimer because the report's author is relying on data provided from other sources to make its recommendations.

"We can debate the interpretation but unless there is evidence that CRC provided incorrect data we should accept the data," he wrote.

The State Government including the Boundaries Commission and Minister for Local Government stand by the figures contained in the report despite protestations from FODS.