A panel of three people have been chosen to form the local advisory committee whose role will be to ensure the views of the community reach the ears of the new transfer manager, Jeff Tate, during the de-amalgamation process.

State Member for Cook, David Kempton will form one-third of the group, while a representative from the Douglas Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree - likely to be Chamber president Phoebe Kitto, and TPDD executive officer Doug Ryan or chairman Gordon Welham - will fill the remaining two seats.

Mr Ryan said the tourism body was well-placed to fulfil its duties on the committee.

"There's no doubt about that...When you consider the range of membership we've got and the number of people employed by the industry through our end, it's certainly a huge reach.

"Where we've got the reach is up into the Daintree and Cape Trib areas. That's an area that, to us, is pretty important because they've been struggling very hard over the last few years."

But Division 10 councillor Julia Leu said she believes a larger advisory committee is a necessity.

"I think in the end, the group in itself is too narrow so far because it depends who they are and what interests they have.

"They certainly have interests in terms of (representing) those groups, the Chamber and Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, but the Shire is very wide, and big, and if you're talking about a local advisory committee I think the representation overall needs to be extended."

Speaking with The Newsport on Friday, Cr Leu said her role in the transition away from Cairns Regional Council was still "very unclear".

"Certainly from the press release that I read there is no role for the local councillors in any of these communities which I think is quite extraordinary because we are the people that have been elected from the community to represent their interests on a wide range of areas.

"I have been elected twice. People expect me to represent them and be involved in what is the most critical change to the local government structure that we've had in five years.

"I think it's extremely important that we have people who are very familiar with local government and the way it works. There are people who, yes they've got good advice, but the mechanics of how local government works is very complex, and that's exactly why we've got a transition manager with relevant local government experience.

"(But) to deny people who have equally relevant experience, particularly local councillors because it's a local council representative body, is quite extraordinary and I don't recall that that's happened in any other process before."

Cairns Regional Council CEO, Peter Tabulo, said the decision to leave Cr Leu out of the local advisory, and transition committees, was that of Local Government Minister, David Crisafulli.

“Cr Leu has a commitment to not only Division 10, but to Cairns Regional Council as an elected representative and I have no doubt she will continue to fulfil that commitment during the remainder of her term with CRC.

“The Minister has not recommended the inclusion of elected representatives on the advisory committee. Cr Leu will have the same role as other elected representatives during the transfer process.”

Mr Crisafulli, reiterated Mr Tabulo's comments, and added that he did not want people with political agendas on the local advisory committee.

"I want people on this advisory committee with one interest - to make a strong, viable council that serves the people of Douglas.

"I didn't want people there who wanted to be mayors and CEOs and all sorts of things...The person I want to see on that group is not someone with political aspirations or someone who's got a huge vested interest in this..."

When asked if TPDD, an organisation that receives around three-quarters of its annual funding from local government, has a vested interest, Mr Crisafulli replied to the contrary.

"I guess that means they've got a vested interest in creating a strong, viable council, in the same way the Chamber has a got a vested interest in making sure that there is a business hub that works.

"That's the best kind of vested interest, the one where you need things to be successful."

He said he was "pretty happy with the committee as it is" but would not rule out expanding it if required.

"I'm not pig-headed. If somebody said 'Look, we see a need for another group to be on there,' I'd always listen to that, but I think we've got it just about right.

"I want him (Tate) to be speaking with more than just that committee, but that's going to be the formal group he'll meet with on a regular basis."

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