A major residential development in Mossman has been given the go-ahead with Douglas Shire Council granting approval for Stage 4 of the Daintree Horizons estate.

The approval to reconfigure one lot into 68 lots and parklands paves the way for developers to progress construction of Stage 4 of the estate.

Mayor Julia Leu said the approval was a vote of confidence in the Douglas Shire and supported other indicators that the local economy is on the improve.

“Major residential developments in Port Douglas, Mossman and Wonga Beach have been approved in the past 12 months which provide the capability for hundreds of new houses in the Douglas Shire,” Mayor Leu said.

“This will provide new and existing residents with a great choice of locations to live and demonstrates that developers have confidence in the growth of the region.

“Combined with the growth in tourism in the Douglas Shire, the stability of our agricultural sector and progression of major developments such as major refurbishment of the Sheraton, the proposed new aged care facility in Mossman and the proposed redevelopment of the marina, there is good reason to be confident in our local economy.”

Council has approved more than 200 new residential lots as part of six new subdivisions in Port Douglas, Wonga Beach and Craiglie in the past 12 months.