Douglas Shire Council adopted the Coconut Management Plan and Coconut Action Plan on Tuesday 29 September which has fuelled debate not only during the public consultation phase but also at the last council meeting.

Adopted: Douglas Shire Council Coconut Management Plan and Coconut Action Plan

RELATED: 

• <link comments-welcomed-for-coconut-management.12761.0.html>Coconut Management Plan
• <link beloved-icon-or-omen-of-environmental-is.12790.0.html>Beloved Icon or Omen of Environmental

During the public consultation the council report states that some of the key messages from the community were the significant role the coconut plays in promoting the area as a tropical destination and therefore people expect to see coconut palms.  Also the concern that council may not implement the plan respectfully and therefore the community assumption is that council will remove the majority of coconuts.

The better management of coconuts in areas of environmental significance was of concern as well as protecting our critically endangered littoral rainforests from the impacts of coconuts. It was also of concern that coconuts are a valuable resource going to waste.

Of the 71 written submissions council received during the public consultation 22 support the plan, 19 oppose it and 28 were unclear, which meant that these submissions did not clearly state their opinion either way.

The Council report stated that given these responses the community is clearly divided on this issue as was the case with the Councillors at the last council meeting.

During the council meeting the Cr Melchert said that he had indicated previously he did not support the coconut management plan.

“I’m not moving that the Coconut Management Plan be adopted and that’s why I am saying my  motion relates to the Coconut Management Action Plan. If my motion was to proceed there would not be a Coconut Management Plan only a Coconut Action Plan and that is the fundamental difference,” said Cr Melchert.

Cr Carey said he supported the recommendation put forward by the staff of a Coconut Management Plan and Coconut Action Plan stating “it is absolutely transparent and absolutely necessary for this council.

“If we compare that to current circumstances where there is no plan in place for Council’s intentions for coconut management then we do need to have a Management Plan and Action Plan and that is what is proposed.

”There’s plenty of opportunity in this Management Plan for ongoing community engagement and this opportunity does not necessarily exist at present in the absence of a plan.” said Cr Carey.

Mayor Julia Leu said Council was proud of the fact the Douglas Shire is considered the “Coconut Capital of Australia” with almost 11,000 coconut palms growing on Council-controlled land.

“The community has high expectations the tropical appeal that coconut palms bring to the Douglas Shire must be protected based on the economic and aesthetic value coconuts add to our tourism industry,” Mayor Leu said.

“This Plan will have no impact on the tropical ambience of Douglas, as it enables coconuts to be assessed, protected and even planted in places of high value.”

Addressing issues such as hazard identification, risk assessment, palm distribution, environmental impact and the associated costs of coconut management, the Plan establishes a framework to implement and track the progress of Council’s coconut management for social, economic and environmental benefits. 

Under the 2015/16 Action Plan, 14 high-risk coconut palms representing just 0.2 per cent of mapped specimens in the Douglas Shire will be removed to enhance public safety, 13 in Wonga Beach and one in Murphy St, Port Douglas.

Council will continue to to de-nut a total of 1452 coconut palms, as well as undertake three restoration projects and trial landholder maintenance agreements with Newell Beach residents.

Two parcels of land directly north of Four Mile Park will be revegetated with more than 3000 native plants to prevent dunal erosion and replace native species that have been illegally removed to enhance coastal views in recent years.

Council will also enter into an agreement with the Sheraton Mirage to restore beach dunes adjacent to the foreshore by cleaning up waste vegetation and revegetate with appropriate ground cover.

A site of littoral rainforest will also be chosen north of the Daintree River based on environmental significance, with fallen coconuts collected to prevent their further spread and utilised as a supplement bait in the feral pig trapping program. 

The Council Report which details the Coconut Management Plan, 2015/16 Action Plan, trial landholder maintenance agreements with Newell Beach residents and details of the restoration projects are available on Council’s website.

The Councillors voted three against two on the matter; Mayor Julia Leu, Cr Carey Cr Noli voted for and Cr Melchert and Cr Clarke voted against the Coconut Management Plan and Coconut Action Plan.