David Crisafulli, the Minister for Local Government, walked the streets of Port Douglas yesterday as part of a whistle-stop tour of Cairns, Port Douglas, and Mareeba.

The softly spoken Minister took the time to speak with residents and business owners to draw attention to the 9 March referendum on de-amalgamation.

"I've purposely gone out of my way not just to meet those with a vested interest in it, and there is a lot of passion on both sides of any debate, but just to go and talk to the everyday man on the street."

Mr Crisafulli said he was not in town to push a particular stance or agenda in relation to the referendum.

"I've shamelessly barged into businesses and interrupted trade and asked a series of questions. But my questions aren't about getting a 'yes' or a 'no' answer, and they're not about pushing a view one way or another. My questions are about making sure people know there is a vote on and that people have enough information to make that vote."

He said he experienced a good level of awareness from the people he had spoken with, and that people had taken the time to absorb the information available to them.

Pictured: Minister for Local Government David Crisafulli met with several business operators on his whirlwind tour.

In deciding to send Douglas to the polls, Mr Crisafulli went against the recommendations of the Boundaries Commissioner despite the Commissioner's calls that a re-formed Douglas Shire's chances of economic sustainability were "highly unlikely."

This angered some pro-amalgamation supporters who believed the poll on 9 March should not occur in Douglas. Meanwhile, Mr Crisafulli has been criticised by de-amalgamation supporters for standing by Queensland Treasury Corporation figures that lead to the Boundaries Commissioner's recommendation, a position he maintains.

"People can mount a case that things can be done more cheaply or things might cost more. The only point I make is that the figures from Queensland Treasury Corporation are the cost to create a stand-alone council offering the same level of service as today.

"QTC were given a simple brief and that was like-for-like. No gold plating, no under cutting, just like-for-like.

"Despite all four groups challenging across the State, no one has been able to poke holes in it, and I've responded to the Synergy's report (the consultants employed by Friends Of Douglas Shire to review the QTC report) and no one has been able to drive a bus through those figures. They stand up.

Mr Crisafulli was due to meet FODS' representatives yesterday afternoon.

He had two pieces of advice for swinging voters.

"The first is get in and read the (QTC) report, have a look at it and make your own mind up if the financial cost is worth the benefit. And there are some huge financial challenges, and of the four that have been referred, this is clearly the one with the biggest challenge. That's as clear as day.

"The second is, vote! And if you don't vote, you're going to get fined $110 and there are no excuses. Pre-poll starts on Monday."

Mr Crisafulli gave assurances that, regardless of the result of the referendum, the existing, or new council will receive the support of the Queensland State Government.

"Whatever the result, one way or another, we're going to make this work. Whether that be with a new council with the financial challenges that are there, we are going to make it work. Whether that be a regional council that has to act like a true regional council, we are going to make it work."