Leu slams ferry forum

Council not invited to ‘sympathetic echo chamber’

DOUGLAS Mayor Julia Leu has criticised the organisers of a community forum into the Daintree ferry’s recent fiveday closure for creating a sympathetic echo chamber rather than meaningful debate.

Residents invited to tonight’s forum will have the chance to tell Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch what they want – to retain the present state of affairs, operate a second ferry or build a bridge over the World Heritage-listed river.

“Douglas Shire Council has not been invited to the Daintree forum,” Cr Leu said.

“Hosting an invitation-only event for a small group of people and dressing it up as community consultation is completely inappropriate.

“Council works extensively with the whole community so it is disappointing to be left out of this forum. It demonstrates a bizarre intent to not only lock out council, but the wider Daintree community.”

The event has been organised by Floravilla Ice Creamery owner Betty Hinton, whose business came to a dead halt when the existing ferry was dry-docked for safety inspections earlier this month.

Mr Entsch said there was a political schism whereby living situations that would be completely unacceptable south of the river was considered merely a fact of life for those to the north.

He expected robust debate from the Daintree community today.

“I’ve got some people contacting me saying yes, there definitely has to be a bridge,” he said.

“Others are saying it’s got to be two ferries.

“But I’ve had nobody come to me and say the status quo.

“The bridge is an option but it’s not my call.

“Whatever their view is, that’s what I’ll be listening for.” Another community meeting will be held at the Heritage Lodge & Spa in Diwan at 4pm today with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) delivering its report into options for establishing mains-equivalent power in the Daintree.