Page 89 - Port Douglas Magazine 28

hether it is the clear freshwater “Usually it would be up to the
flowing down the Mossman boat owners to pay for the
Gorge, or the beautiful beaches removal, because it is essentially
Wthat span our coastline, our illegal dumping, but they have
tourists are spoilt for choice when it comes to been there for that long there is
immersing in the tropics. Far North Queensland little to no evidence on the vessel
is home to the some of the cleanest estuaries. that we can use to identify them.
None more so than Daintree River, which was “When we have severe weather,
recently ranked the best in the Wet Tropics there is a key evacuation route
Waterways Partnership Report Card. that meanders through the
It is why Douglas Shire Council puts so much mangroves where vessels can “It will also encourage wildlife and increase
effort into keeping our waterways pristine. reach a safe haven. biodiversity in that Cassowary and Saltwater sub-
Nestled on the mangroves and beneath the “Right now we have a potentially dangerous catchment areas in our shire.”
surface of the Dickson Inlet, are 12 abandoned situation where these wrecks not only impact the Council regularly cleans beaches with by rubbish
vessels that have been slated for removal by the inlet’s scenery, but could also block this key route. pick-ups, including clearing remnants of illegal
State Government. The wreck removal is a feather in the cap for beach fires often littered with broken glass.
Easily sighted from a boat or the resort town’s Council’s attitude towards waterway management
‘Only rain down the drain’
marina precinct, the wrecks have been considered and highlights the organisation’s day-to-day
Douglas Shire youngsters participated in a Storm
an eye sore, an annoyance for boaties and a potential commitment of preserving the environment.
Drain Stencil Art contest to promote Council’s
safety hazard during cyclones or large tides. Apart from regular monitoring and testing of
“Keep Paradise Plastic Free” message.
The Douglas Local Marine Advisory Committee waterways in Douglas Shire, Council is also Sea turtles, sharks and a dinosaur named
and Council have been strongly advocating for involved in several projects that contribute to the “Mosasaurus” were just some creatures featured
the ship wreck removal for many years. health of our waterways and foreshores.
in the creative designs submitted to the contest.
Contractors started removing the vessels towards
‘Improving waterway resilience to The purpose of this project was to provide
the end of February.
reduce reef run off ’ opportunities for local artists to create art that can
Council’s Manager for Sustainable Communities
Council is involved in a project that seeks to be turned into stencils and spray painted storm
Paul Hoye said some vessels were believed to have
stabilize streambanks to reduce sediment run off drain lintels to contribute to public awareness of
been there for up 10 years.
to the Great Barrier Reef. the connections between what we do on land and
“To remove the wrecks off the inlet banks, the the health of our water and Reef.
The Mossman Nursery is council-run and
contractors cut up the vessel and placed debris
provides a wide variety of native plants for locals “Land-based run off is one of the biggest dangers
into a skip bin on a barge that goes to Cairns,”
and planting on stream banks to stabilize the to the Great Barrier Reef and one of the ways
he said.
waterways. pollutants can damage our environment is
“Expert divers are needed to dismantle the through our street gutters,” Council’s Community
Council, Canegrowers and Terrain NRM –
underwater vessels and bring above the surface Development Officer Lisa Golding said.
an independent not-for-profit that promotes
piece by piece.”
the sustainable use of land and waterway – are
Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu, who is deputy
planning to boost riparian vegetation and stabilise
chair of the Queensland Government’s “War on
streambanks in the Mossman area.
Wrecks” taskforce assigned with identifying and Customer Service Centre
Council’s Open Spaces Co-ordinator Peter
removing boat wrecks across the state, made it a 64-66 Front Street,
Logan said works hoped to improve the flood
priority project for her council. Mossman
resilience of waterways in Douglas Shire.
“The biggest challenge we were having was (07) 4099 9444
“The project hopes to reduce the export of
trying to find the owners of the boats – it proved douglas.qld.gov.au
sediments to the Great Barrier Reef from eroding
impossible,” Mayor Leu said.
stream banks,” he said.
PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 89