Douglas Shire Sustainability Group (DSSG) believes the proposed Daintree Microgrid is “green wash” and that it may even lead to an increase in fossil fuel use, rather than a decrease.

DSSG president, Didge McDonald said that upgrading standalone solar systems in the Daintree is a far more environmentally and cost-effective solution, and would have huge community support. This would virtually eliminate their need to use diesel-powered back-up generators.

Douglas Shire Sustainability Group (DSSG) welcomes the decision of the Planning and Environment Court (the Court) to allow the appeal by DSSG and others; overturning the decision of Douglas Shire Council (Council) of 30 March 2022, to approve the development of a “Wave Park’ at Mowbray.

FNQ environmental activist body, the Douglas Shire Sustainability Group (DSSG), has raised community concerns about a major development project currently underway on the Daintree Coast.

DSSG maintains that the proposed project is a Controlled Action that requires approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Cth) (EPBC Act).

DSSG has written to Douglas Shire Council about its recent decision to purchase a much larger ferry for the Daintree crossing. DSSG does not agree that his is justified and have made suggestions for alternatives and reminded Council that just two years ago its survey of residents and ratepayers overwhelmingly approved a two ferry solution. Read full letter.

DSSG calls on candidates in the upcoming Federal election to support the upgrading of existing stand-alone power systems for residents and businesses in the Daintree coast area. DSSG believes that upgrading existing stand-alone power systems is the only rational plan to improve power availability to the Daintree coast, - it would have little environmental impact, be a fraction of the cost, would face no regulatory hurdles and could begin immediately.

Please join us for our Annual General Meeting.

This year we will have two guest speakers and members discussion.

Jess Uhlig from Green Food Australia will talk about her business turning food waste into bio-fertiliser right here in Douglas and Lucy Graham (Director) and Aisha (community organiser) from CAFNEC to speak with us about CAFNEC's activities.

An application under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), to discover what has become of the Federal Government grant of $990,150.00 to fund the design of a hydrogen powered electricity grid to a community group on the Daintree Coast, has been refused. The grant from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources was awarded without any tender process or terms of reference, to the group calling itself Daintree Renewable Energy (DRE). The grant money was to prepare a ‘shovel ready’ proposal by July last year. No such proposals have been released.

Douglas Shire Council has stewardship of the foreshore and its fringing forests, and must manage it for the benefit of current and future generations of Australians and others. In Douglas Shire, the foreshore is part of the Great Barrier Coastal Marine Park and the fringing (littoral) forests are protected under the Nature Conservation Act. The tidal area is within a declared Marine Park and the littoral forests are listed as critically endangered. Authority to regulate activity in these areas is delegated to Council. This delegation attracts a responsibility to act in accordance with relevant Government legislation, management plans and policies to protect this special environment.

DSSG has canvassed members for input on the Douglas Shire Council Foreshore Management Plans, and made a comprehensive submission to Councillors on the plan.

DSSG appreciates the Council's plan to focus resources on management of some of the Shire’s foreshore areas.

While acknowledging that the coastal area of Douglas Shire comprises several different landscape features, we are of the view that an overall foreshore management plan is appropriate and necessary.

The key features of an overall management plan would include strategies for:

· Protection and regeneration of the Littoral Forest

· Protection of fauna and flora, particularly those identified as endangered or threatened.

· Appropriate infrastructure including access

· Protection of the foreshore areas for resident amenity and quiet enjoyment

· Weed and domestic animal control

· Public Education including signage

· Enforcement policy

DSSG has called on authorities to stop the unlawful use of vehicles on Wonga Beach and run a public education program with beach driving permit holders about the limitations on speed, safety and where not to drive.

This week Douglas Shire Councillors considered the results of its recent survey about options for crossing the Daintree. The survey results confirm the views of DSSG members that a bridge is neither required nor desired and that this community prefers conservation over development. Two thirds of those surveyed said they preferred a two ferry system.