THE Douglas Shire Council has received a petition which supports concerns regarding the proposed development of a service station on the Paws and Claws site, Lot 1 Captain Cook Highway, Craiglie, a matter which will be tabled at tomorrow’s open session of council.

The Douglas Shire Council Administration office Frontline Services received it from the principal petitioner Chelsea Malinas. There are 94 petitioners, 92 of whom are residents of the Shire.

The petition is calling upon Council to stop the approved development application due to concerns relating to impacts on native wildlife in the creek which run beside and behind the site.

In her supporting arguments, Ms Malinas says if a service station is built on the site, it will have a devastating effect on the native wildlife that lives in the creek which runs behind and besides the site.

“The creek flows into the mangroves and further into the waterways that flow onto the reef. The contaminates and building processes on this environmentally sensitive site will kill the native wildlife and contaminate the creek,” she says.

Council has proposed that, in accordance with Council's Standing Orders for Council Meetings, Council receive the petition and refer it Officers for investigation and a report be presented to Council in due course.

It will also be tabled at the meeting that Council adopt the Coconut Action Plan 2016/2017 to ensure that there is clear direction for the management and maintenance of coconuts (Cocos nucifera) on Council controlled lands.

The current cost of coconut management is $217,000. Since implementing the Coconut Management Plan 2015, substantial savings ($35,000) have been made in the past financial year, according to council’s agenda.

“The savings were achieved from a reduction in the contract rate for de-nutting services due to the competitive market price between local suppliers. The cost of effective coconut management is expected to rise into the future if the Coconut Action Plan 2016/2017 is not adopted.”

Tomorrow’s agenda (start 10am):

1. Request for negotiated decision Mossman Hardware

2. Request for owners consent and pre-lodgement enquiry, 3 Escape Street, Port Douglas

3. Nomination of councillor to Mossman showgrounds user group 

4. Coconut action plan 2016/2017 

5. Related party general policy 

6. Financial report for the period ended 31 August 2016

7. Miallo Primary School car park 

8. Amendment to commencement time of 11 October ordinary council meeting 

9. Reports from the chief executive officer for the period of July-August 2016

10. Community agency network (can) – facilitation of regular communications

11. Petition - service station development, Craiglie