The Douglas Chamber of Commerce has received a mixed response to a number of questions asked of the three main local stakeholders in the de-amalgamation issue.

Cairns Regional Council (CRC), Friends Of Douglas Shire (FODS), and People Of Douglas (POD), were invited to respond to a number of questions formulated by the Chamber after they held a members meeting earlier this month.

While answers to a number of questions were received by CRC and FODS, POD failed to respond within the required timeframe.

The line of questioning sought information from stakeholders in areas including:

• Accessibility to council representatives
• Efficiency of operations
• Contract work for local suppliers
• Industry diversification
• Tourism body funding
• Branding
• Economic planning
• Community

Douglas Chamber of Commerce president Phoebe Kitto said any information that can help people decide which way they will vote on Saturday is valuable.

"We discussed the questions we felt were pertinent to be asking on both sides of the debate that would help the business community make their decision as to what was going to be the best way to vote.

Ms Kitto said there remained a level of confusion amongst the Chamber's members as to who to cast their vote for.

"You’ve got two groups who are spouting very different information. One of the biggest questions that comes over is the cost - can we afford to be de-amalgamated or not? Both sides have very different answers with regards to that so it's very difficult.

"FODS aren't the new council, they're not going to be the new council so it's very hard for us to compare what the new council is going to be like compared to the council we've got at the moment."

Read the questions and answers here

Ms Kitto said a lack of information from CRC is making it difficult for people to make an informed decision.

"The Cairns (Regional) Council haven't really been prepared to give us a lot of definitive answers...they haven't done a good job to date with regard to engaging with the community.

"They're saying that they will but they haven't shown us how they're going to be doing it. That's a bit frustrating, even for those who are wanting to stay with Cairns Council. They are wanting to  
be able to get a much better engagement with Cairns Council and that's going to be vital should the vote be a 'yes' vote."

"Are things going to change? Where is the real commitment and the real love that things are going to change?"

But according to Ms Kitto the deciding factor for most voters will be based on economic viability.

"If people in the business community believe that if the Douglas region can support its own council then they will vote 'yes' to de-amalgamate. I think it they don't and they've got concerns about increasing prices and the ongoing viability of it and not having enough diversification in the community then they'll vote 'no'.

Ms Kitto said healthy tourism and agriculture industries would enable a re-formed Douglas Shire Council to thrive, but added another large downturn in the economy could make it "really hard for our viability."

"But who has got the crystal ball?" she said.