Council will consider entering into a three three-year Resource and Performance Agreement with Port Douglas Artists Inc for Call of the Running Tide, at Tuesday’s ordinary meeting in Mossman.

The proposal is for the following funding: $15,000 (GST Exc) cash in Years One and Three; and $10,000 (GST Exc) in Year Two; with in-kind support including use of Port Douglas Community Hall, Mossman Shire Hall and parks during the event and for pre-event workshops.

It will be next held in 2021 and according to Council papers, the total impact on the Shire’s economy increases as the daily spend and number of visitors increase, along with the event having regional significance, attracting visitors from the far north region, staying overnight, supporting local accommodation and food services.

Councillors will vote whether to provide in-kind support for use of venues and waive application fees for events, as part of a post COVID-19 economic and event recovery strategy, to the amount of:

• $8,216 for Knockout Events - Wonderland Under the Stars
• $2,508 + $1,500 security bond for Festival Amusements - Mini Fun Fair

“Council is working to encourage event organisers to host events in the Douglas Shire in the post COVID-19 climate to encourage community and economic recovery. To offer assistance and remove financial hurdles it is proposed that Council offers in-kind support and waives application fees for events.”

Councillors will also decide whether to endorse the community public consultation plan for the Daintree River Ferry Crossing; and delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer to finalise all matters associated with this plan.

“The Daintree River Crossing Options Assessment Report examines a bridge option and the proposed two-ferry service, it includes costs and provides a comparison against the current single ferry arrangement.

“This report will be released publicly, and the community will be invited to provide feedback on the different options examined, and, if they have one, their preferred Daintree River Crossing option,” according to Council.

Providing one-off funding of $10,000 cash and in-kind assistance of waiving of venue hire fees for Sugar Wharf for the Better Together Conference to be held in February 2022, is also on the agenda.

“Council was approached with a request for out-of-round funding for a regional LGBTIQ conference called ‘Better Together’ to be held in 2022.

“The conference is hosted by a health promotion charity called the Equality Project. The funding amount requested is $10,000 cash to go towards associated costs, and in-kind support for the use of the Sugar Wharf ($1,550) for the event, to be redirected from the 2021/22 operational budget.”

Council will be advised to note a report on the 40 Days in 40 Ways campaign that ran from 10 April 2020 to 19 May 2020 and that the Douglas Recovery Group pivoted successfully to support the community of Douglas Shire in fortifying their resilience, mental health and wellbeing.

The meeting will be closed to the public because of health and safety reasons associated with the public health emergency involving COVID-19.

It will be live-streamed online and an audio of the meeting will be available on the Council Website at the time the minutes are made available.

AGENDA

Douglas Shire Council ordinary meeting Tuesday, 25 August 2020 10:00AM.

1. Permanent road closures - 65 Karnak road, Whyanbeel
2. Mossman sewerage treatment plant – tenure
3. 40 days in 40 ways
4. Call of the running tide resource & performance agreement
5. In-kind assistance post Covid 19 events strategy
6. Funding support for the better together conference 2022
7. Naming of unnamed road off Captain Cook highway, Killaloe
8. Daintree river crossing round two public consultation plan
9. Proposed amended schedule of fees and charges 2020/21
10. Financial report July 2020
11. 2020/2021 internal audit plan
12. Operational plan progress report for period April to June 2020

More information here.