OPINION: The threat of a rate rise has attracted enormous interest in the election campaign. But, it can be contested that we are missing the boat. What we should be looking at is how we can raise additional revenue to offset any increases and support other areas.

In the first instance, extra revenue is desperately needed to boost our tourism budget. Tourism Port Douglas Daintree (TPDD) received $451,500 from the Douglas Shire Council’s 2015-2016 budget to support the delivery of activities by TPDD to support tourism in the shire.

And despite the limited funding, they punch well above their weight and do an exceptional job. You can only guess they have a wish list of what else they would do if they had more money.

It pales in comparison to Cairns, who do not have the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree, Four Mile Beach, Low Isles and our numerous other attractions on their doorstep.

In the Cairns Regional Council's Budget for 2015-2016, $2 million was committed to Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) to boost marketing of the region. An additional $1 million can also be leveraged by TTNQ to secure matching funding from other levels of government or the private sector.

But let’s get back to the point of raising revenue and how this shire compares to three others (see below table): Mareeba, Noosa and Gannawara Shire in Victoria.

Of the four shires, Douglas relies on 80.26% of its total revenue on rates. The other shires range between 50% and 69%. Gannawara, with a smaller population than Douglas (10,500), relies on only 50.6% of its total revenue on rates.

The same shire is also able to garner $7.3million in grants, subsidies, contributions and donations and is second to Mareeba with $7.9million. The Douglas Shire, on the other hand, collects a meagre $1.4million. And of the four shires, Douglas is alone with a deficit of $3.6million. The attached table  aptly tells the story.

It is abundantly clear that this shire needs to be innovative, diversify and engage the private and public sector to assist in seeking new revenue streams.

It is something our incumbent mayor, councillors and candidates should be looking at. They should be talking to the likes of Mareeba, Noosa and Gannawara. What are they doing, that we are not. Based on what this shire has to offer, we should be leading the way. Instead we are falling behind.

The incumbent mayor says this is not the time for change. This then makes one believe that the status quo is acceptable. Surely this is unacceptable.

Tonight is the second of the three election forums (at the Port Douglas Community Centre) and an ideal time for all candidates to stand up for what they believe in and what needs to be done to enhance the Douglas Shire.

To the candidates, your time is running out. Now is the time to stand up and tell the Douglas Shire what plans you have in place and how you intend to implement them.

If your message mirrors that of the opening forum in the Daintree, then you obviously agree with the mayor that this is not the time for change.

And that outlook could haunt us for the next four years.