Diversification, investment, and closer ties with State and Federal Governments are priorities for Mayor-elect Bob Manning in a bid to improve the prospects for the region's businesses.

While the induction of the new Council is still two days away, Mr Manning is currently coming to terms with the financial position of the Council he will head, and meeting with local business people concerned about the economy.

"I came from a meeting this morning with someone who is a significant investor in Cairns and Division 10, a person who is very well connected," he said.

"He wanted to talk philosophically about what our approach would be and wanted an indication that there was going to be a change in Council's philosophy towards business.

"(We'll be) an administration which will work harder to attract business, to encourage investment, and will work harder with State and Federal Governments to implement policies to support that.

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"It's an enormous benefit that we now have an administration in Queensland which is very much pro-business. That doesn't mean moving things along at the expense of environmental issues and proper process.

"Our approach will be very much in tune with the way the State Government thinks. I think that's going to maximise the gains for this region."

He sympathised with the plight of small business owners, including that of Port Douglas businessman Doug Calvert who was forced to close his four retail shops in Macrossan Street last week.

"The economy is the main game. Without economic growth and revitalisation we're just going to see more Doug Calverts, and that's very sad because people work all their life and work their butt off to see it go bad.

"There are externalities at the moment, whether it's the Australian dollar, whether it's tourism numbers being down, whether it's the Global Financial Crisis, whatever it is, there are externalities that businesses can't always address themselves.

"They need help from governments and they need direction and leadership to get things moving."

When asked if there has been a lack of leadership from Council and other key organisations Mr Manning said the proof was in the pudding.

"I think we'd all be judged on where we are at the moment, we could all be doing better."

Mr Manning said that the new Council needs time to digest the issues facing the region, and described the task of solving these issues as like "turning a super tanker around."

"It'll take a while but it will happen. That's our commitment."

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