TOMORROW is the final day for Douglas Shire residents to respond to the proposed Draft Planning Scheme – or Town Plan – and it’s a sad indictment that a meagre 140 submissions have made.

More than 9,000 residents and ratepayers received a letter from the Douglas Shire Council inviting submissions, while 200 USB sticks, containing the scheme, were requested.

If we assume that the 140 submissions were made by those who requested a USB stick, it clearly points to one key issue – there has been limited interest in the plan. Or, to give our residents the benefit of the doubt, they have shared their opinions with the mayor and councillors.

Yet, this is an important document as its aim is to shape our future for the next two decades. And as Councillor Michael Kerr said: “If we are not planning for our future, we are ignoring it.”

Mayor Julia Leu has been quoted as saying that the majority of people she has spoken to me are supportive of the basic principles of the plan.

Council today released a summary of the feedback and the following issues were raised:

• Building heights in urban areas
  
  
• Climate adaption strategies
  
  
• Endemic species for use in landscaping
  
  
• Implementation, application and enforcement of the Scheme
  
  
• Inclusion of the Precautionary Principal
  
  
• Sustainable building design, e.g. solar power, water tanks, cross flow ventilation, use of materials like wood in preference to concrete, greater focus on water sensitive design
  
  
• Need for electricity infrastructure overlay
  
  
• Transport Network Overlay
  
  
• Places of Significance
  
  
• Review period of the planning scheme
  
  
• Suggestions on how the Planning Scheme can be more user friendly.
  
  
• In addition, the proposed Retirement Village slated for Ferrero Road was well received. The majority of the submissions support action to enable the development to go ahead. 

On the issue of a Live Entertainment Precinct, the majority of submissions have requested a Special Entertainment Precinct supported by a Local Law. This change would shift responsibility away from Liquor Licensing and hand over control and management of amplified music in the live entertainment venues in Macrossan and Wharf Streets in Port Douglas to Council.

The most commonly mentioned subject was communities north of the Daintree River and power supply.

Submissions highlighted the high cost of power and the high emissions from generators, arguing the latter is contrary to the ecotourism label often attached to the Daintree.

The majority want the new Planning Scheme to incorporate measures which would lead to the introduction of practical and affordable renewable power sources to reduce the reliance on generators.

Others want the focus to shift away from having a standalone power supply for individual properties and move towards local area green grids where possible, paving the way for sustainable outcomes.

A Council spokesman said all properly made submissions will be considered for incorporation into the Proposed Douglas Shire Planning Scheme.

“A final Planning Scheme reflecting any amendments recommended as a result of the community consultation will be presented to Council at either its November or December meeting. A summary of comments received will be included in this report to Council,” he said.

“The Planning Scheme, if adopted by Council at this meeting, will then go to the State Government for a final review before it is adopted and becomes law.

“There is a one-year ‘sunset’ period once the new Planning Scheme is gazetted which means Development Applications can be lodged with a request for Council to consider the application under the previous Planning Scheme.”