August 2022: New ferry advances, effects of rental crisis, Paws and Claws opened
August 2022
FERRY GO AHEAD
It took a while but in August 2022 there was, at last, movement in the Daintree Ferry saga. Four Douglas Shire councillors voted to start looking at another, more efficient ferry to replace the existing vessel.
Councillor Roy Zammataro was the only one to vote no, citing costs to Council and ratepayers of having to buy the present ferry plus the projected costs of the new one.
A ‘special’ meeting was called because the plan was rejected at the previous Council meeting.
Councillors were satisfied that the proposed new ferry would be a wider, four lane vessel, that could be loaded two lanes at a time and carry 90 per cent more cars per hour.
RENTAL CRISIS COSTS
The extent of the wider effects of the Douglas rental crisis was becoming evident, with businesses reporting they were struggling to keep their doors open, as workers found it harder to afford to live in Port Douglas.
So serious was the crisis that there were real fears the tourism town’s international reputation was at risk as travellers simply couldn’t buy dinner.
Frustrated businesses started taking the initiative to buy or lease apartments and reaching out to the government to work cooperatively to find long-term solutions.
“The financial cost of this housing crisis on businesses is huge,” the Peninsula Hotel’s Craig Watson said in August. “But the biggest cost is to the town as tourists are leaving with a bad impression of Port Douglas. Our international reputation is at stake,” he said.
PAWS AND CLAWS OPENS
“It’s taken years of blood, sweat and toil but surrendered or abandoned cats and dogs, those seeking new forever homes and others that in the interim simply need a place to rest their tired eyes or weary paws while their owners are away finally have new temporary digs to call home,” Newsport Editor Michael Warren told readers back in August about the opening of Paws and Claws.
The new premises’ launch followed the 2016 closure of the previous local rescue and boarding facility centre due to redevelopment.
The new animal rescue, adoption and boarding facility, boasting a no kill policy, was made possible through the efforts of those involved with the Homeless Animal society and Boarding Kennels Inc, who had done a host of fundraising.
“With new digs comes a new manager and no one is more suited to the role than Chris Barber who brings a wealth of experience to the position,” Michael reported.
‘CHIPPY’ FAREWELLED
One of Port Douglas’s most loved characters, 54-year-old Chris McMullen or ‘Chippy’ as he was known in Port Douglas, left many shocked when he passed away suddenly and was given a well-attended farewell in August.
“Chippy had travelled all over Australia as a builder, including stints in Darwin and Kalgoorlie but Port Douglas ended up his ‘spiritual’ home,” Paul Makin reported.
His family held a ‘twin’ memorial in his hometown of Temora in NSW, while in Douglas, close to 200 people gathered at the 4 Mile Tavern to raise a glass to his memory – the Tavern was Chippy’s favourite watering hole.
“His sister Lisa says Chippy loved Port Douglas and the people who live here and that was no more evident than today,” Paul wrote.
RESPONSIBLE PARTYING
Port Douglas residents and visitors to the region had to be reminded in August by local police that they should act responsibly while consuming alcohol and, in some cases, partying into the small hours of the morning.
The warning came after a series of late-night partying and revelling which had caused complaints to police about excessive noise, disturbances and bad behaviour.
Senior Sergeant Damien Meadows of Port Douglas Police told Newsport at the time: “The loud, amplified music at ridiculous hours of the morning is certainly interfering with people’s way of life, and it can result in significant fines for persons involved.”
TRIPADVISOR AWARD
It was also the month that a Douglas tourism business was proud and thrilled – winning a prestigious top rating from international travel company Tripadvisor.
ABC Snorkel Charters in Port Douglas said it was truly humbled to hear that it had been named Tripadvisor’s ‘Number One Australian Tourism Experience’, in the 2022 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards.
Not only did the locally owned and operated Great Barrier Reef tour score Australia’s top place, but they were also named number one in the South Pacific region and 23rd in the world. The recognition placed them in the top one per cent of Tripadvisor’s experiences in the world.