Douglas residents will go to the polls to decide if they return to their old shire.

Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said while Douglas had some severe financial challenges and the chance of a long-term viable council is highly unlikely, residents should get to vote on whether the proposed rate hikes were worth a return to their old shire boundaries.

“The Government has always been firm that despite the brutality of the forced amalgamations in 2008, we would prefer regional councils to work,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“We’ve also said we’ll give communities the opportunity to vote where there’s a chance a viable council could be created.

“But it needs to be done with all the facts on the table, and people will have to make a judgement about whether reverting to an independent council is worth the financial pain.”

The Boundaries Commissioner Col Meng handed Mr Crisafulli the report on November 28, which recommended only Noosa go to a referendum.

Mr Crisafulli has decided that Douglas, Noosa, Livingstone, and Mareeba will all go to a vote, but Isis will not because of financial restrictions.

“In line with my views that whenever possible it should be local communities that control their destinies, I have referred Douglas through to the final stage of a public poll,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“I am being upfront with this community in saying that at the end of it there will be greater costs, and a much weaker council.

“It will be up to the voters to decide if the community gain is worth the financial pain.”

For Douglas, Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) found the initial cost to de-amalgamate would be $8,146,000 or an extra $701 per ratepayer in the first year.

There would also be ongoing costs of an extra $462 per ratepayer every year thereafter, rising with inflation.

Mr Meng and QTC have spent the past two months working with proponents, stakeholders and Cairns Regional Council to work out all of the costs involved.

The Commissioner’s report included:

• wages for a Mayor and Councillors
• wages for council staff
• cost of equipment and IT
• the cost of de-amalgamation to the remaining council
• the cost of conducting a referendum
• ongoing costs, such as annual licencing fees and insurance

“No doubt there are costs, but if the community feels that the pain in the pocket is worth the price for an independent council area, they’ll get their old council back,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Mr Crisafulli rated the likelihood of each proposed new council achieving a sustainable future:

Noosa - Good
Livingstone - Medium
Mareeba - Unlikely
Douglas  - Highly unlikely
Isis - Nil

Only residents in the former council area will vote, with referendums to be held in the first quarter of 2013. Voting will be compulsory.