Tuesday 5 July 2011

Updated - Abbott delays Port visit

: Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will join Sheraton Mirage owner David Marriner and Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey in Port Douglas on 14 July.

UPDATED Wed 2.08pm - ABBOTT DELAYS PORT VISIT

Federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, has decided to delay his visit to Port Douglas due to the Government's upcoming Carbon Tax announcement this Sunday.

While Mr Abbott will remain in Canberra, Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, has told The Newsport that Shadow Treasurer, Joe Hockey, and new Sheraton Mirage owner, David Marriner, will still attend the planned evening for local business people.

The event has drawn a flurry of bookings with Sheraton Mirage GM, Lachlan Walker advising local business people that just a handful of places remain.

Details for inquiries and RSVP for the business community by 4pm on 11th July for the cocktail evening to Louise Miles, contact email: louise.miles@sheraton.com or Ph: (61) (7) 4099 0867.

Previously reported

Abbott joins Port Brigade

2.04pm Tuesday, 5 July

Further to our announcement yesterday afternoon, we can now confirm that Mr David Marriner, the new owner of the Sheraton Mirage, Port Douglas in association with The Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce, The Mossman Chamber of Commerce and TPDD, the local tourism body, is extending an invitation to all their members and any local business owners and operators to meet the Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch, Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey, Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, and himself in Port Douglas for an informal evening of 'cocktails and nibbles' on July 14th from 6 to 8pm.

This evening will present an ideal opportunity for the business community to raise their concerns on key issues such as the treatment of their businesses by the 'Big 4' banks and the implications to their businesses of the significant increases on Strata Title insurance.

This meeting, being generously hosted by Mr David Marriner and his team, will present the perfect opportunity to hear direct from Mr Marriner himself about his plans for the re-development of the Sheraton complex.

It is also expected that there will be ample time allocated at the end of the talks for a 'Question and Answer' forum to raise the profile of many of the difficult local issues currently facing the community.

With these high profile public figures in attendance, this is a great opportunity for the business community to raise the profile of issues directly affecting Port Douglas and its surrounding region and it should not be missed.

Details for inquiries and RSVP for the business community by 4pm on 11th July for the cocktail evening to Louise Miles, contact email: louise.miles@sheraton.com or Ph: (61) (7) 4099 0867. This evening will be strictly entry by RSVP only and bookings are limited.

Previously reported

Marriner, Hockey Port bound

Monday 20 June, 2011

Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, says he has orchestrated an event for local businesses which will see Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey and new Sheraton Mirage part owner, David Marriner, in attendance.

"I've asked Joe (Hockey) to come up to Port Douglas and I'm going to organise a cocktail function for the Port Douglas and Mossman business community," Mr Entsch said.

"I want to show him what needs to be done including the refurbishment of the (Sheraton) Mirage and of course the (Port Douglas lagoon) pool and anything else that the business community can come up with.

"I've asked David Marriner to come up and present directly to Joe, and he may well be in a position to make the necessary announcement."

The event is to be held on Thursday 14 July. More details to come.

Have your say!

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Rod Roberts, 09-07-11 15:52:

Mr Squire appears to miss the point again - as much as I think Joe Hockey is a good guy he is on the B team. He might enjoy the canapes but has no input into what Port Douglas needs.
What Mr Entsch needs to do is get the Federal and State Ministers for Regional Development and Tourism to Port. They will be around for long enough to be shown where our toursism $ needs to be spent.
Some ideas: prime time TV ads in Brisbane Melbourne & Sydney on how cool it is to hang out in tropical Port -( Queenstown NZ) do it
: invite the Shadow Prime Minister and Minister for bicycle riding to do the 2012 Iron Man Event. How much wonderful publicity could NQ get by the press following Tony Abbott training for the iron Man at say, cape Trib. then doing the actual Iron Man? Plough some money into promoting it nationally.
: Get behind the Lagoon project. Suggest some federal cash to add a childrens park similiar to that in Cairns (that is the BEST)I have seen. When kids are catered for their parents come back.
:locally,suggest a trial turning Wharf St between Warner & Macrossan into a pedestrian mall. Close the street on Sundays so that the retail area , lagoon and market are all linked by a mall with food and drink providers,umbrellas, tables & chairs.
: in the past the Sheraton has always bussed people in and out without ever seeing the real Port. Can Mr Marriner expand on how he intends incorporating the new Sheraton into the local Port retail, restaurant and accomodation industries?
Its not a political race - get all sides together on this one, Mr Entsch?

Toni , 09-07-11 12:41:

I think David Marriner's initiative to consult with the locals in planning his refurb. of the Mirage is very progressive but I would also think that the presence of the big guns and the resultant political static would be a hindrance to that dialogue. It's his money but I would hope he will aim well up market, not increase the number of beds but broaden the facilities, particularly with comprehensive convention/incentive group attractions.

Michael Squire, 06-07-11 16:09:

Angela Wilcox and Rod Roberts, very vocal but sadly misguided. This is just an initial meeting which I see acting as a catalyst for change in Port Douglas. We need ideas and the right amount of energy placed for maximum effect. Don't worry about the labor party, they won't be around forever. We need to understand Mr Marriner's vision for his asset and see how that might fit in with an overall strategy for Port Douglas. Port Douglas has been declining since the 80's and if we are to bring back the magic to the area then we need to get everyone on board, regardless of their political or apathetical persuasion and put in place a structured range of measures for our area. Slagging off the polies is a waste of time, perhaps you might offer some constructive criticism and suggest what you might be able to bring to the table for positive change hmmmmmmm?

Angela Wilcox, 06-07-11 04:48:

Given that the polies listed above do not belong to the party that is Federal Government at the present time, and merely members of the party that is in opposition, what precisely is this going to achieve besides more bluster and noise ?

Rod Roberts, 05-07-11 18:14:

Removing the politics from the situation I cannot see what David Marriner hosting Joe Hockey or Tony Abbott can do for Port Douglas?
Expressly Shadow Govt members are only able to shadow what they 'think' should happen in the region. I think Me Entsch should have bitten the bullet and get Government Ministers to the region - at least they are the ones with the purse strings and thats what the region needs now; money spent to bring tourists to PtD?
Sorry but... politics is a funny game and commonsense is not their forte.