Douglas Decides 24' - Peter Wood Councillor candidacy statement
CANDIDATE STATEMENT
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!
Who am I?
My name is Peter Wood. My family (Wood, Modric surnames) has been in Mossman since 1935 including my grandparents’ parents.
In the 1950s, my grandmother Doreen Wood lobbied the State government to establish Mossman high school. In the 50s and 60s, my grandfather Les Wood and his brother Pen Wood ran the shell fuel depot from Mossman. They were regulars at the bowls club. And other pubs.
My cousins Jane, Peter and Peter Modric grew up in Mossman. My father John Wood did an apprenticeship up at the Mill and claimed the QLD apprentice of the year award. My Aunty Betty Modric had her first Job at the ANZ. I have known the Douglas Shire since the early 1970s.
I grew up in Darwin, however during my schooling years, I spent many summers knocking about Mossman River and Mossman town. I returned to Mossman with my Mum Judy in 2004 to rebuild my Grandparents house. Often working in Cairns, Canberra and Townsville. In 2007, I enrolled to complete a PhD in ecotourism at James Cook University and finished in 2011.
In 2012, based on my PhD and research commercialisation studies I co-founded the non-profit Great Barrier Reef Legacy with John, Linda Rumney and family. Also, Dean Miller and Tim North from Reef Magic Cruises resulting in the Forever Reef project now based at the Cairns Aquarium in Cairns.
In 2010 I co-founded the Mossman Botanic Garden project in 2010 with Mr. Marcus Anderson. I was recognised for this by the Douglas Shire Australia day recognition in 2023.
The primary reason for starting this garden was to stop tourist traffic coming through Mossman so they can walk back into town, cafes, shops, restaurants, accommodation, in simple terms - help grow the town. The vision was for a public space for the town, recreational, sporting, music, arts, volunteers, international voluntourists, with Wet Tropics plants and rainforest botany and stories and people at the heart of it.
10 years after the funding agreement for land and viable plan for a wet tropics garden was signed, it is not like this today. Not even close. There is much more to be done.
I’d like to highlight that the garden project is a non-profit project already funded by the Federal Government to over $2M for land ($1.4M) and viable plans. This is a publicly funded project for the public of Mossman and surrounds.
The involvement of more people from Mossman & surrounds is essential for the garden’s future business design and operation. That is, acting on their needs & ideas is the self-evident way to create the viable garden for our community.
I’d like to see much more involvement of the people of Mossman and surrounds in the Mossman Botanic Garden planning, far more involvement of members in plans and a review of what has happened up to this time. And of course, clear transparency about the social and financial viability of existing plans, as would all existing Councillors and candidates naturally want.
My professional background - that is useful for Douglas Shire residents
- I have a PhD in ecotourism from the James Cook University, Cairns in 2011 – specialising in science and ecotourism.
- I have a Graduate Certificate in Research Commercialisation from QLD University of Technology in 2009. I have a PhD in Science from Flinders University.
- I currently work for a strategic planning company in Canberra called Aestra while remotely in Mossman.
- In 2023, I completed an information management role with Rio Tinto and Ranger Uranium mine in the NT.
- Prior to this, I worked for Timber QLD and the Australian Bureau of Agriculture Resource Economics and Sciences from 2020 to 2022.
- In 2010, I co-founded Great Barrier Reef Legacy Inc in 2012 and Mossman Botanic Garden Inc.
- In 2016, I lectured three subjects on marketing and tutored business at James Cook University.
- From 2012 to 2014, I was Secretary and Treasurer with Wildlife Tourism Australia.
- Between 2010 and 2012, I was a consultant with for the Australian Forest Products Association in Canberra.
- From 2001 to 2006, I worked for the Strategic Planning and Environment Branch within Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
- In 1998 and 2020, as a GIS scientist with the Wet Tropics Management Authority, I was the person responsible for completing the modeling and mapping for the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area Management Plans.
- I worked on the completion of the Great Barrier Reef Zoning plan in 2002 and 2003.
- Over the years, I worked for the Central Land Council and the Carpentaria Land Council.
What can I bring to the Council?
- Strategic planning, listening to residents, lobbying for residents, innovation, entrepreneurship, communicating and finding solutions.
- Long term experience as a resident of Douglas with family stories about the region since 1935.
- Long term tourism planning, products, market analysis, event attraction and hospitality support.
What would I do for Council and Douglas?
- Continuously lobby to win programs, grants, tenders and other investment for the Douglas region.
- Lobby for innovation & entrepreneurship for the community, government, and our private sector.
What would I like to see?
- Swimming pool for public, schools and businesses in Port Douglas.
- Shade/trees for the tourists and public walking about Port Douglas especially in summer.
- More town beautification and murals - starting with Mossman.
- More beautiful lights like those at the Mossman markets and Macrossan Street.
- Businesses from the Saturday markets using Mossman Botanic Garden land (which is publicly funded land).
- Public recreational facilities (e.g. parks, shelter, music) on publicly funded Mossman Botanic Garden land.
- Far more facilities for our homeless people, their shelter, health, and going forward.
- Ongoing safety (and feeling safe) especially for families and visitors in parks and our streets.
- Wellbeing and economic studies for Daintree region especially for those hit very heavily by Jasper floods, who need understanding and direct and ongoing active help.
- Ongoing protection of the ecosystems and world heritage of Wet Tropics rainforest and Great Barrier Reef coasts and offshore.
- A small plan airfield for north of Mossman, to attract small plane direct flights to Douglas and Daintree increasing tourism and economic investment direct to Douglas region.
- A small jetty/harbour or coastal pontoon north of North of Snapper Island to attract viable marine tourism vessels and other vessels.
- Linkage between Cooktown and Wujul Wujul Shire Councils, for growth and wellbeing of residents.
- Innovation on opportunities for southern/international retirees and businesses to move to Douglas region.
- Cooler summers, less rain, and more dry seasons
