Council: Douglas Regional Council
Mayor: Cr Michael Kerr
Population: The estimated resident population of Douglas Shire Council was 12,426 as of 30 June 2020.
Queensland’s beautiful far north loves welcoming millions of visitors, but the population surge does put pressure on its water supply.
In Douglas Shire in Far North Queensland, this means immense pressure on the community's natural water sources.
One of the community's major water intake locations in its World Heritage rainforest is on track for water consumption to outstrip supply by 2025-26.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said that more investment into water infrastructure would help Douglas Shire Council fast-track key projects to protect its water supply.
“These projects are critical in attracting private sector investment and social infrastructure directly linked to new jobs and economic growth,” he said.
“Douglas Shire has one of the highest rates of consumption per capita across Queensland, with more than 2.27 million visitor nights at our beautiful resorts and accommodation providers placing immense pressure on our water supply each year.”
“Douglas is calling on the Federal Government to guarantee Queensland’s fair share of the $3.5b National Water Infrastructure Fund to deliver critical water security.”