Douglas mayor congratulates Entsch on election win
FEDERAL ELECTION 2019
Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu said today that she is confident that the numerous projects earmarked for the region will come to fruition.
Her comments come in light of the re-election of the Federal Government and Warren Entsch, the Leichhardt member, who retained his seat and who made many promises in the lead up to the election.
“I have worked with Warren in some capacity since I met him in 1996 and I am keen to continue working with him to deliver a number of very important projects for our region.
“Warren has promised many really exciting projects for Douglas Shire, prior to the election, and I am confident our community will see these projects come to fruition,” said Cr Leu.
There is a considerable list of projects which need to be achieved and Cr Leu has identified what she believes require priority.
“There are many important projects and initiatives: but perhaps the most important are the $20 million commitment to the Mossman Mill; $8 million for the Wangetti Trail; $1 million for a feasibility study for a renewable energy solution north of the Daintree River; $500,000 for the Paws and Claws shelter; and a $110,000 white picket fence for the Port Douglas Sports Complex, which will be made of recycled plastic.”
Cr Leu also congratulated Mr Entsch on his newly-announced mission to introduce a national policy on removing plastic from the environment. “This fits in very nicely with our Plastic Free Douglas initiatives,” she said.
Cr Leu, too, is buoyant for the next nine months in the build up to the local government election in March.
“The most exciting thing for Douglas Shire is that this time next year, we will have a financially sustainable council for the first time in a long time.
“That has been our number one goal and an achievement that we have strived for since 2014.
“We started with a $5.2 million deficit in 2014, which has been reduced each year and I look forward to presenting a surplus budget on 25 June. We have been completely debt free since June 2017,” she said.
Cr Leu said this Council will have reached this while keeping rate rises down, maintaining a high level of service, injecting essential projects and positioning our region as a leader in eco-tourism.
“We will continue rolling out our large number of capital works projects, including the emergent and essential repairs, as a result of Cyclone Trevor,” she said.
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