MP hits lack of notice for crossing closure

the first time in more than 10 years.

The slipping project has been scheduled from February 28 to March 4 before the ferry’s current certificate expires on March 20.

Mr Entsch said the closure would affect the entire community.

“Council said themselves it’s a mandatory maintenance so they know what they’re doing and then they dump it onto the community,” he said.

“I think what they’ve done is absolutely shameful, I think it’s irresponsible and I think it’s totally unacceptable and I think we should get behind the Daintree coast community.

“They haven’t consulted with the community. Surely the councillors knew this was happening. Why didn’t they talk to the community rather than basically saying ‘too bad, too sad’?”

Mr Entsch said the council should have an alternate ferry in place during the shutdown.

“Tourism operators had no idea this was happening ... they need to make a living,” he said.

A Douglas Shire Council spokesman said that during the five-day shutdown a free 30-person passenger vessel would carry people across the Daintree River with the council providing free shuttle buses south and north of the Daintree River.

“This is a complex, unprecedented and mandatory exercise,” he said. “Council welcomes the opportunity to work with individuals in the next four weeks to minimise the impact of the closures to residents and businesses.

“If council had known