Sat 31 Jul

Tue 9 Mar 

Are you rallying to the call on Sunday?

Mike Berwick still an advocate of de-amalgamation

By Roy Weavers

The Friends of the Douglas Shire have asked us here at Newsport to remind you about the March and Rally to demonstrate against Council amalgamation being held in Port Douglas and Anzac Park on Sunday 14th March.

 

It has been two years since the State Government dissolved the Douglas Shire and forcibly amalgamated this self-governing, culturally rich, unique Douglas community with Cairns City to form the Cairns Regional Council.

 

Friends of the Douglas Shire have stated that in these two years this forced union has completely discredited the justification offered by the State Government. The worst fears of Douglas residents have been realised with more issues arising almost daily.

 

So, on the second anniversary of the amalgamation the Friends of the Douglas Shire have organised a mass rally on Sunday 14th March to demonstrate to the State Government that this issue has not died and that the amalgamation of Douglas will be made to play a role in the outcome of the next State election.

 

So bring the kids, bring the dog, bring granny, and bring a brolly.  The rally in Anzac Park is designed to be a fun event for everyone, except the State Government and the Regional Council, with Sausage sizzle, drinks, balloons for the kids and live entertainment as well as a few choice words from respected members of the community.

 

Those wanting to march should assemble at 11.30 outside the Port Douglas Community Hall for a 12 noon Departure. The rally route will be along Macrossan Street to Anzac Park.

 

If you can't make it on Sunday, don't panic!  You can still have your say by commenting below.  Newsport has arranged with the organisers to pass these comments on for Sunday.

Comment

Bob, 09-03-10 17:46:
Seriously!!! Get over it. Deamalgamation is NOT going to happen. Start looking to the future and not in the past. How come no one remembers how BAD the Douglas Shire Council were? Who remembers the fights in council chambers, etc ... ???? Come on Douglas, you're the laughing stock of the region. GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Robert, 09-03-10 18:21:
Bob must be Jason's ventriloquist doll.
Lisa-Jean, 09-03-10 18:35:
We are NOT the laughing stock of the region. If we all went through life without fighting for what one believes in then we would be mushrooms, yes people, having no voice and doing whatever you were told. Imagine that world BOB. All through history people have fought. Women wouldn't vote, black slavery would still exist if some of us had not fought. If you believe in something then you unite and you fight, you give hope by having faith to make a positive change. Imagine if we forgot the past............what would Anzac Day then be BOB? I think you need to think and appreciate what the past has done for all over the years. On the local front....Thank you Mike Berwick for all the good you did do in the past. How quickly that all has been forgotten by BOB and those that think like BOB.
Charlie, 09-03-10 19:24:
Get over yourself Bob!! You're obviously not a P D local or if you are.....move out!! We are all aware of how disfunctional our council was but even then we had pure water, money in the bank, a say in our region, jobs for our local tradesman, lower rates, local pride....and much more! Now we just get screwed as a convenient cash cow for Cairns. Port Douglas is a very special place.....there's nothing special about Cairns....whichever way you look at it chalk and cheese don't mix....go live in Cairns Bob.....although I expect you already do!
jim, 09-03-10 20:21:
I am a port douglas local ...well 25 years..I agree with bob although the cairns council isn't great the former Douglas Shire was a joke and thats the reason Port Douglas has now faded to a 3.5 star destination while place like Noosa which also suffered amalagamation are booming and running full while we are like a ghost town. Demalagamation is never going to happen so stop living in the past like the losers that will show up to this stupid rally
TG, 10-03-10 12:21:
Bob & Jim, p#$! off to Cairns - that's where you both belong. The former Douglas Shire wasn't disfunctional, a few councillors were. There's a big difference between the two. The reason we have 'faded' is that SINCE amalgamation we are not supported by council or by TTNQ who have used amalgamation to ignore our existence and only promote Cairns. Oh yeah, maybe that little thing called the world economic crisis had something to do with the downturn as well.
Coral, 10-03-10 15:28:
Identity - Are Port Douglas, Daintree, Mossman suburbs of Cairns?
Water- We don't want chemicals, but who are we to say.
Jobs - Gone down the drain with the water.
Rates - State gov promised it would be cheaper under Cairns, so we should look forward to that. They wouldn't tell you fibs.
Townships appearance. You must water the sidewalks, gardens, paths to keep it sprick. Balance the water bills as well. All else - pray it rains. Oh, and Mossman didn't need those car parks or trees taking all that space up.
Of course - Cairns waterfront is for us as well. Council should pay premium for its appearance and pools. You are free to use it.
To get to Cairns(our council saviour) by bus is a little expensive, ($70 return) but cns council understand that. They are providing a bus to service Wonga and Mossman sometimes. Gotta be winner.
Can't wait for the parking meters and traffic lights.
amalgamation- gotta walk the walk.
And TG - guess who is mayor of the sunshine coast?
Will, 11-03-10 17:19:
At the risk of being accused of anti-Port sentiment, I have to say that I have some empathy with Bob's position. I regard myself as a 'local' although I've only lived in PD for 4 years; as I said at a de-amalgamation meeting at Mossman a couple of years ago, those who listen to only their side of the argument know (at most) 50% of the facts! Dissent and agreement both have their place in this debate, and it is foolish to deride those who have an contrary view to our own. Please, listen to ALL the debate, remember the past, don't get caught up in hyperbole (a comparison with the ANZACs is at best offensive to the ANZAC spirit!) I look forward to balanced debate on this very worthy subject.

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