Council sets DV shelter funding plan

THE fight to offer victims of domestic violence a safe haven at Mossman is being ramped up.

The Douglas Shire has one of the highest rates of domestic and family violence in the state and Mayor Julia Leu said the community was “fed up”.

Queensland Police reported 72 domestic violence orders in Mossman and 23 in Port Douglas over the past 12 months. Alarmingly, these orders were breached 87 times – an increase of more than 14 per cent on the previous financial year.

Cr Leu said victims living in the region were helpless.

“We absolutely need supported accommodation that can offer a stable home environment and break the vicious cycle of domestic and family violence,” she said.

Council will put forward a functional brief and operational model to the state and federal government to fund crisis centre in Mossman.

The facility would be a cluster of three self-contained, three-bedroom units with administration space.

Council adopted the proposal at a meeting this week.

“Douglas Shire has one of the highest rates of domestic and family violence in Queensland,” Cr Leu said.

“That devastating statistic is compounded by the fact that our most vulnerable women and children are forced to leave Douglas Shire to find a safe haven.”

The document details the best operational model for the Douglas Shire and was compiled with the support of the Queensland Police Service and a number of community groups.