Douglas Shire Council will return to power after today’s de-amalgamation poll.

Port Douglas was a stronghold for the de-amalgamation camp securing over 70 per cent of the vote at the polling booth. Mossman and Wonga also voted in favour of a return to a Douglas Shire Council.

Miallo, Daintree River, and Alexandra Bay all voted in favour of remaining aligned with Cairns Regional Council.

It has been a five-year battle that had finally resulted in victory for Friends Of Douglas Shire.

Douglas Shire Council was absorbed into Cairns City Council in 2008 to become Cairns Regional Council under Anna Bligh’s State Labor Government and at the recommendation of former Premier Peter Beattie.

But soon after, a number of Douglas region residents felt their voice was no longer being heard, with the new regional council consisting of 10 divisions. The former Douglas Shire combined with three northern beaches of Cairns to become one of the largest local government divisions in Australia represented by just one councillor - Julia Leu.

A vocal group of residents – Friends of Douglas Shire (FODS) – then started a rally for de-amalgamation, attracting a loyal support and following by its members.

Car stickers were seen on vehicles demanding “De-amalgamate Douglas Now.”

FODS’ efforts were escalated to the point that the State Government could no longer ignore them, and the Minister for Local Government, David Crisafulli, granted the residents a de-amalgamation poll despite recommendations from the Boundaries Commissioner warning against the move.

Former Douglas Shire Mayor, Mike Berwick, who held the Douglas Shire Council mayoral position between 1991 and 2008, told The Newsport today that he felt FODS had done its job.

“I see FODS’ job as finished today, always have done,” he said. “We wouldn’t have had a vote if it wasn’t for FODS.  

“I think FODS has done a pretty consistent job, a consistent message, consistent sums for five years.”

A new Douglas Shire Council CEO will be appointed on Monday, with the new Douglas Shire Council expected to be in place by the beginning of 2014.

The cost of de-amalgamation will be borne by the ratepayer. Just what those costs end up being will be known in time. But for now, celebratory cries of 'We got our Shire back!' will be heard around the region - by a clear majority anyway.