The Douglas Shire Council estimate the clean-up bill from Tropical Cyclone Ita will cost more than $20 million. 

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority conducted assessments of damage to council infractructure immediately following the cyclone which destroyed roads and bridges in Upper Daintree and north of Daintree River. 

Mayor Julia Leu said almost the entire repair bill will be covered under Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements [NDRRA] funding with council lodging an application for $2.5 million earlier this week. 

"The major priority is to submit the claims so we can get the money and repair the damage," Cr Leu said.

"At this stage that's how much we think it will cost, however sometimes there are aspects of damage that appear after an event but I feel that is an accurate assessment at this stage."

Some works, such as dredging of the Daintree ferry channel have already been completed while the pontoon at Daintree Village which washed away during flooding will need to be replaced.

Cr Leu said the council’s work during Tropical Cyclone Ita was further evidence that the decision to deamalgamate from Cairns Regional Council was the right move. 

"I think we more than proved as a new council that we were able to deal with a major cyclone event," she said.  

"We worked very closely and very well together. 

"Our local disaster management group met twice a day and because of our local knowledge we were able to act effectively and mitigate potential issues during the cyclone event."

Cashed up council

Douglas Shire have opened with a better than anticipated financial position following their seaparation from Cairns Regional Council. 

The final financial statements show a net cash balance of $19.3 million for council as at December 31, 2013. 

Cr Leu said the figure further undermined Queensland Treasury Corporation's estimate of a closing cash balance of $9 million as at June 30, 2012 which was exceeded by more than 60 per cent.

"I'm personally thrilled. We have vastly outperformed that QTC estimates,"

"I'm very pleased that this community voted to deamalgamate. 

"The result shows the very strong value in regaining our council."

Cr Leu congratulated the Friends of Douglas group, including former Transfer Manager Jeff Tate and finance staff.

"As a new Council we have achieved a great deal in just four months and our strong financial position can give our community confidence for a very positive future," she said.