In a quiet corner of Cape Tribulation, the harvest by hand of the world’s most delicious fruits is just getting started. Wildwood, an orchard and accommodation set in 15 acres of World Heritage rainforest, is home to 450 purple mangosteen…
UPDATE 5:00pm: Port Douglas resident and former councillor Michael Kerr is on the brink of becoming the new mayor of the Douglas Shire. The 2020 local election has proved to be a tightly contested race for mayor with Mr Kerr currently…
Surf lifesaving Queensland will move all volunteer beach patrols and lifeguard services to surveillance patrols at Four Mile Beach from today, March 28. The change will mean lifeguards will still be ready to respond, however, to avoid…
Sadly, recovery from the Covid19-induced economic crash will almost totally depend on the actions of the narcissistic, erratic, sociopath in the White House. Let me explain. With apologies to Leo Tolstoy, every market boom is similar;…
There is no doubt about it, this has been a tough week for employers of our region. The nature of the crisis has meant that decisions are changing daily, even hourly, and legislation that was written for short term stand downs like…
Douglas Shire residents go to the polls on Saturday in unprecedented times and this Local Government election will be like no other. As we have moved closer to polling day and the coronavirus has worsened to the point of impacting every…
Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours, which has been closed since a man tragically lost his life in October, has today announced it will stay closed for good. The ziplining tour has been under a Workplace Health and Safety investigation since…
It’s easy to feel helpless when facing such uncertain times but acts of kindness are popping up all over the Douglas Shire, proving humanity can sometimes shine at its brightest in the face of a crisis. One group of residents from the…
Allegations of Letter to the Editor crafting to supposedly promote a candidate has dogged the final days and hours leading into Saturday’s Local Government election in the Douglas Shire.
The actions have prompted threats of litigation…
The Douglas Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) has restricted access of the Daintree Ferry to local residents and essential services only, in response to the Federal Government’s advice against non-essential travel. Council will work…
UPDATE: The Douglas Shire's first confirmed cases of COVID-19 are believed to be from two Mossman residents who had recently returned from overseas where they contracted the virus. The pair are being treated in isolation. Queensland…
With everything going on you would be forgiven for forgetting that there is an election this weekend, but on Saturday the Douglas Shire will decide who will lead the next Council. Over the last few months, Newsport has reported on each of…
The Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has announced today that Queensland state schools will move to “student free” from Monday, 30 March in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus. However, schools will remain open until the…
Compared to the rest of the world and some of the bigger cities in Australia, to date we still have very few COVID-19 cases up here in Far North Queensland.
Many people will only get mild symptoms, similar to a cold or a mild flu.
Other…
With only a few days remaining to Saturday’s Local Government election, the debate regarding the shire’s financial position remains a key issue, with rates dominating the discussion.
And over the past few weeks, data has been produced,…
Dear Editor, A post, which appeared on the Port Douglas/Mossman Buy Swap and Sell on Sunday morning, which questioned the integrity of a number of well-known people in the shire, including me, is something which I feel cannot be ignored.…
Many of Port Douglas’ largest reef tour operators are suspending their operations in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic as much of the tourism industry comes to a grinding halt. The Quicksilver Group will suspend operations on all the…
Recent reports of the closure of the Captain Cook Highway between Port Douglas and Cairns are not confirmed says Douglas Shire Council in a statement this morning. "Council has not been formally advised about any road closures into…
Regardless of your personal opinion towards the coronavirus pandemic and the political response, it is just very important right now to follow public health advice and official directions. Back to the basic facts: 1. How is coronavirus…
The Officer-in-Charge of Port Douglas Police is strongly encouraging the restriction of public attendance at the station for the safety of both its customers and staff in relation to the COVID-19. Essential Services will be strictly as…
The Port Douglas Markets, a local institution, has been cancelled until further notice, as part of a number of precautionary measures the Douglas Shire Council has implemented to reduce the risk of COVID-19. The Mossman Nursery is also…
An additional $4 billion in measures to support Queenslanders’ health, their jobs and businesses will be invested by the Queensland Government. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the measures are an unprecedented response to an…
Douglas Shire Council will provide immediate relief to ratepayers by freezing interest on rates and working on further relief packages after the 2020 Local Government Elections which are on Saturday 28 March. A local recovery group,…
With more cases of COVID-19 now confirmed in Cairns, the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS), which includes Mossman Hospital, said it is prepared. There has now been a total of five confirmed cases of COVID-19 in…
The Federal Government yesterday announced a second stimulus package worth $66 billion to provide support to businesses and individuals feeling the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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