A third generation Far North Queenslander, Cooya Beach architect Bruce Clarke comes to the table with a wealth of local knowledge and heritage.

BACKGROUND

Mr Clarke's connection to the region stretches back to the 1870s, with his great grandfather the town's first harbour master. Mr Clarke and his father were born in Cairns, and his grandfather was born in Port Douglas in 1887. 

Mr Clarke began his educational journey at Edge Hill State Primary School in Cairns. A secondary education at Cairns State High School followed, with Mr Clarke a member of the Class of 1964. He went on to study civil engineering while working on North Queensland roads and bridges for a Cairns consulting engineering company.

He then moved to Sydney, spending two years with another consulting engineering company on the design and construction of high rise buildings and town planning. Mr Clarke also worked as a designer on dams in western NSW, and the Port of Brisbane at Fisherman’s Island.

Moving to Port Douglas as a building designer in 1980, Mr Clarke has operated a business in Cooya Beach for the past 12 years. Most recently, he supervised the design and construction of the Mossman Bowls Club's extensions and bowling green roof.

Mr Clarke served as president of Ellis Beach and Port Douglas surf life saving clubs, collectively for 8 years.

POLICY PLATFORM

Mr Clarke said his "history and passion for the Douglas Shire is very obvious." He is keen for the opportunity to help lead the Shire towards a financially stable future, and return its reputation as the world's top tourist destination.

"We have two major industries in the Douglas Shire," he explained, "The sugar industry and the tourist industry. Both must be maintained and promoted."

"Small business is a very big past of these two industries, and must be promoted in conjunction with the major industries."

PRIORITIES

• Establish an aged care facility in Mossman
• Establish Botanical Gardens in the Douglas Shire
• The Port Douglas lagoon: "a priority that will have to wait until the new Council becomes financially stable enough to be able to support [the lagoon's] construction and maintenance, but should be regarded as a near-future priority."
• Douglas water: "It would be great to have our water supply back to what it was, with no added chemicals," Mr Clarke explained. "Queensland legislation requires a minimum percent of chlorine in all water supplies. We can change this legislation, but this process is very involved, and takes a very long time...Let's work on it. To take the chlorine out without the consent of the State Government could lead us into a lot of trouble, [especially] if someone becomes ill. This would lead to litigation and very big problems for Council."