Daintree blame game

FEDERAL Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch’s embarrassing comments about the mandatory Daintree Ferry closure show how oblivious he is to his own government.

It was his government’s department – the Australian Maritime Safety Authority – that “dumped” this dry-docking requirement on Douglas Shire Council before Christmas.

Since then, council has worked extensively to minimise the impact to residents north of the Daintree River by organising free shuttle buses, traffic management plans and security for parked vehicles.

Council has undertaken public notification and extensive communications via all available media.

This goes above and beyond the requirement of the ferry contract.

Council is now working with individual businesses over these next four weeks to offer all practical support.

Warren’s comments are a clear attempt to make council a scapegoat and fuel animosity.

We now have four weeks to work with the community and look at more ways to minimise disruption to everyone.

Perhaps this could be an opportunity for the Federal Government to help Dain- tree residents deal with this new AMSA requirement, rather than throw mud and start council-bashing. Julia Leu, Douglas Shire Council Mayor