THE 2017 Douglas Shire Civic Recognition and Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony will be held in Rex Smeal Park for the first time on 26 January.

Council is defying the wet season blues to hold the inspirational community event outdoors in the spectacular Rex Smeal Park from 9.30am on Australia Day as a prelude to the free Great Australian Bites food and music festival at the same location from 11am-3pm.

Mayor Julia Leu said the combination of the two events to celebrate Australia Day made perfect sense.

“The Civic Recognition and Australia Day Awards recognise the Douglas Shire’s quiet achievers who contribute so much to our communities,” Leu said.

“We will be honouring the Douglas Shire’s 2017 Volunteer of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Citizen of the Year nominees and presenting a special Civic Recognition Award at the ceremony.

“We’ll also be welcoming 16 new citizens originally from the UK, the Philippines, Zimbabwe, China, Switzerland, the Netherlands, India, the Republic of Ireland and Italy who have chosen to call the Douglas Shire home."

The citizenship ceremony has been held at Rex Smeal Park on National Citizenship Day for the past two years. Leu said it provided the perfect backdrop for Australia Day.

“We’re delighted to once again have the support of the State Government for our second free Great Australian Bites food and music festival which will feature fabulous food, cooking demonstrations, an excellent line-up of live music and plenty of games and entertainment for kids of all ages.”

If it is raining on the morning of Australia Day, the Civic Recognition and Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony will relocate to the Port Douglas Community Hall in Mowbray St. Great Australian Bites will go ahead at Rex Smeal Park rain, hail or shine.