ON THE AGENDA | Digital petition to be presented to Council

DOUGLAS SHIRE COUNCIL




A petition opposing Douglas Shire Council’s Healthy Reef Partnership with Qantas Future Planet, GreenCollar, and Tourism Port Douglas Daintree (TPDD) will be tabled at tomorrow’s ordinary council meeting in Council Chambers, Mossman.

To date, the petition has attracted more than 700 signatories. Coupled to this, Tin Shed General Manager and Councillor candidate in next year’s Local Government election, Kym Rowley, wrote to Mayor Julia Leu requesting community meetings in Port Douglas and Mossman to elaborate on why this decision was taken.

Mayor Leu has agreed to the request and the meetings will be held in mid-August. Dates and venues have yet to be finalised.

At an open council meeting on 18 June, Council resolved to become the country’s newest carbon neutral region by aligning itself with the aforementioned partners.

Mayor Julia Leu said the partnership reinforced Douglas Shire’s position as the leading sustainable tropical destination.

The partnership enables Council to become carbon neutral by purchasing premium carbon offsets located in Rawbelle, Queensland.

This decision was vehemently opposed by Councillor Michael Kerr, who was out voted by his fellow councillors David Carey, Abigail Noli, Roy Zammataro and Mayor Leu. 


Related Coverage:
- COUNCIL LAUNCHES EDUCATION PROCESS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND CARBON-OFFSET PROJECT
- COUNCIL CANDIDATE WEIGHS IN ON REEF PARTNERSHIP DECISION
- GOBSMACKED ENTSCH CALLS ON DOUGLAS TO VOTE FOR CHANGE
DOUGLAS SHIRE COUNCIL FIRST TO ENTER CARBON OFFSET DEAL


A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. Offsets are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent.


In his e-mail to Council CEO Mark Stoermer, and in support of the petition, petitioner Russell O’doherty wrote:


Good morning, Mark:

We are submitting this petition to you on behalf of the Douglas Shire residents that have signed our petition.
  
We are also very concerned of what has come out in the past couple days in regard to the Mayor Julia Leu at the Council meeting held 18 June where it was stated that the shire will have enormous benefits in marketing and advertising for the shire with the Qantas partnership when clearly this is not the case.

Currently as at this e-mail, we have 673 signatures which were gathered in a three-week period beginning on the 3 July.

We will leave petition open and live so that you can check on it at any time at the link below:
CLICK HERE FOR PETITION

Regards Russell O'doherty

Mr O’doherty, who will attend the Council meeting, said: “On behalf of all the people that signed the petition, I expect the Council to take notice of these people’s concerns and put a halt to the farce.” 


Douglas Shire Council Ordinary Meeting
Tuesday, 30 July 2019 10:00am
Table of contents


1. Council to CEO delegation update
2. Workplace Health & Safety Policy: July 2019
3. Investigations policy
4. Public interest disclosure policy
5. Fraud and corruption prevention policy
6. On-line petition on Council carbon credits

Closed session
Table of contents


1. Prejudicial matter s275 1 h local government regulation 2012 - Tourism Port Douglas Daintree operational documents
2. Contractual matter s275 1 e local government regulation 2012 - contract award Polettis Bridge replacement project, Miallo
3. Contractual matter s275 1 e local government regulations 2012 - contract 2019-085 Cape Tribulation Bloomfield Rd bank stabilisation design & construct
4. Contractual matter s275 1 e local government regulations 2012 - contract 2019-089 Syndicate Rd slip repair
5. Contractual matter s275 1 e local government regulations 2012 - contract 2019-086 2018 DRFA road restoration
6. Prejudicial matter s275 1 e local government regulation 2012 - proposed contract for specialised mail services s235 (b)
7. Prejudicial matter s275 1 h local government regulation 2012 - write off of bad debts
8. Prejudicial matter s275 1 h local government regulation 2012 - acquisition of property for rates s149(1)
9. Prejudicial matter s275 1 h local government regulation 2012 - QAO interim management letter s213 (3)
10. Prejudicial matter s275 1 e local government regulation 2012 - proposed contract future it project s235 (b)
11. Prejudicial matter s275 1 e local government regulation 2012 - councillor matter 230

VIEW FULL MEETING AGENDA HERE


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