DOUGLAS Shire residents showed their hand at the council elections on March 19 and elected a mayor and councillors who they believe can take the shire forward over the next four years.

Now the same residents face a test of a different kind – and unlike the election, this one is not mandatory – and involves the proposed Douglas Shire’s Planning Scheme. Or put simply, the Town Plan. A plan that will shape our region’s future for the next decade or more.

And key to the test is whether the people of this region take any interest in the plan; offer feedback; arrange meetings with the Town Planner to better understand what is a lengthy and detailed document; or simply ignore it.

Council released it on August 8 and September 30 is the deadline for responses. They will then review any feedback, revise the plan with adoption slated for December.

If the option is to view the plan with cynicism and argue that council will disregard feedback, then there won’t be a case to challenge what is implemented. It’s clearly a case of making yourself heard, or accepting the consequences.

Already there is concern within the business community whether this plan is attracting much interest. The Douglas Chamber of Commerce has given thought to hosting a session to discuss the plan, but have serious reservations believing there will be limited interest.

The plan has many running scared. There is a group in this town that quiver when any mention is made of ‘development’. They envisage major departmental stores coming into town; the construction of high rises and the welcoming of fast-food outlets.

This is NOT the case.

The plan outlines permitted land uses and development requirements in the shire for the next decade. And it factors in all of the elements necessary to progress the preferred social, economic and environmental outcomes of our communities.

The plan promotes environmental responsibility in the shire as being fundamental to the community’s future and is consequently a common theme that will direct land use decision making.

The driving principles of the proposed planning scheme are designed to achieve the following:

• Conserve the shire’s natural environment and outstanding biodiversity values;

• Utilise the region’s natural resources efficiently, in particular water and energy, while reducing waste;

• Ensure the region’s atmosphere remains clear and clean;

• Contain urban growth to a defined footprint and promote the best use of land that is allocated for that purpose;

• Support development of a diverse thriving economy that complements the region’s green and environmentally responsible image; and 

• Provide opportunities that ensure everyone is able to participate, live, work and benefit in the healthy cohesive environment that the shire promotes.

Returning to the apathy mentioned earlier, a Newsport reader has bluntly outlined why the proposed development of a “deadly dull” Douglas Retirement Community on Ferraro Road should not be considered.

In her Letter to the Editor (11/8/16), Andrea Collisson, from Oak Beach wrote: “If we don't nip this development in the bud right now, it won't be long before the stretch from Craiglie to Mossman will be as ugly and tedious as the Northern Beaches highway areas have become in the last 30 years. Is that the sort of scenic degeneration residents want to take place in our Shire?”

She added: “I believe there is absolutely no genuine social need for a development of this kind at this time. The argument for it I was given was that some older people are looking to downsize. If that’s the case, the logical answer is to buy a flat if the house has become too big for them. If these people really want to live in retirement villages I'm inclined to think they or someone else is just trying to push up local house prices.”

In response, Robert Brown (20/8/16) wrote: “The area is considered in the longer term to potentially represent an area that may be suitable for accommodating further residential growth. What does this mean? Go elsewhere? We are not ready now? How about the building trade? I understand they are not currently run off their feet. How about employment for the youth, apprenticeships? Income for the local retailers and service industries? There is no obvious reason why this development should not proceed now and produce several hundred more permanent residents with all the economic benefits that would achieve.” 

Retirement villages may not yet be top of council’s agenda, but it is required based on our ageing population. Retirement villages are a must and Mr Brown’s comments are well taken.

This kind of narrative will harm this region. We need to be open-minded and progressive. We live in a world where words like change, development and progress form part of everyday discussion. The Douglas Shire is not immune to these discussions and it’s time to endorse this thinking and make yourself heard.