Michael Warren

Journalist

The strained working relationship and divisiveness between Mayor Michael Kerr and some of his Councillors shows no signs of abating after another at times tense and somewhat charged latest Douglas Shire Council ordinary meeting.

For the third straight month a determined Roy Zammataro today put forward a motion that he hoped would re-ignite and fast track the future of the contentious Daintree Ferry.

This time, Cr Zammataro’s Notice of Motion read:
I move that Council resolve to:

1. Rescind the Motion Item 3.1 Daintree Ferry Crossing Solution from 9th of August, 2022;

2. Invite Expressions of Interest for the provision of the Daintree River Ferry service (under Section 228 (3) of the Local Government Regulations 2012);

3. Notes it is in the public interest to invite expressions of interest before inviting written tenders; and 4. Continue with associated landside infrastructure upgrades on both riverbanks.

And finally, progress, after his motion returned a unanimous vote, including surprisingly that of Cr Kerr, who had stalled a similar motion from proceeding during the past two Council meetings.

“I’m really happy; it’s taken a bit to get there, but today’s result means we can look forward and hopefully start to find a proper solution to the future of the Daintree ferry,” Cr Zammataro told Newsport moments after the meeting.

*To hear Cr Zammataro talk further about today’s Daintree Ferry motion/result please see attached video

Meantime, an equally determined Cr Abigail Noli also put forward her motion, which saw her want Council to adopt a media policy which is not dissimilar to that of the highly popular Ipswich City Council’s.

However, for the second straight month, this was thwarted as Cr Kerr mentioned he had sought legal advice regarding this motion and according to him, as it stands, the policy was “not workable”.

This prompted a back and fourth between Cr Kerr and Cr Noli about the nuisances of why Mr Kerr wouldn’t allow the motion to be discussed.

Ms Noli is a known advocate for Councillors to have open, free and transparent opportunities to talk about Council issues and matters to and with local media.

Ms Noli has regularly said it’s critical Councillors have an opportunity to tell ratepayers and local community members, through the media, why they voted yes or no regarding specific council matters as to ensure Councillors are not muzzled, and to 100% guarantee the public understands and receives clear transparency regarding their decision making.

“I’ll be raising the same motion again next month, that’s how (passionately) I feel about it,” an adamant Cr Noli reaffirmed to Newsport just moments ago.

“It is quite important. (to have a media policy).

“Initially I didn’t realise the importance of a media policy; it wasn’t until a year ago when a draft media policy was brought to a Council meeting that I believe was completely unfair (towards Councillors) did I actually start to realise the proper importance of an (effective) media policy.

“A media policy should allow (and) entitle Councillors to be able to be frank (to be) open and (to) be heard (by the media and the public).

“Up until the last term I’d never felt the need to have a media policy in place, it's only lately that I feel it’s actually necessary.

“The question I have in my mind is why the Chair (Cr Kerr) is so scared of having an open and frank media policy put into place at Douglas Shire Council?”.