We've completed major projects such as flood mitigation at Lake Placid and in Lake St, and created jobs by outsourcing a significant portion of our multi-million dollar infrastructure budget. The environment has gained hugely with the closure of the Portsmith dump, the opening of the Cattana Wetlands at Yorkeys Knob, the upgrade of 4 sewage treatment plants, the planting of over 50,000 trees and greenhouse gas mitigation measures.

I am very pleased to have created the Economic Development fund and to have increased Council's focus on what it can do to stimulate and grow the economy. My involvement in the "New Deal" response to our economy at the end of last year enabled us to show leadership and meet with the state and federal governments in a spirit of collaboration.

We've fixed up community halls throughout the region, revitalised our festivals, established the Mossman Bus Link service, built a new library at Stratford, supported sporting and community groups, allocated funds for footpaths, road re-seals and bikeways. This year the regional Tennis Centre and the Disaster Coordination Centre at Woree and the Botanic Gardens Centre will be completed.

It's been important to take the time to plan for the future, with the Douglas Waterfront and Mt Peter planning processes both winning national awards. Consultation is occurring around the Daintree Gateway issues and master planning of the Cairns city centre will give us a road map for the future whilst we move immediately on beautification measures and lighting upgrades. And, of course, the proposal for a new ‘people's place', an entertainment and education hub on the waterfront is well underway: this is a project that will make us truly a global city and the cultural capital of regional Queensland.

Amalgamation has not been easy and Douglas residents have continued to call for improved services and a return to their chlorine-free water supply; a task that I will do everything I can to achieve.

I thank everyone for their support and patience during a very demanding two years. I give you my undertaking that I will continue over the next two years to listen, to work hard and to deliver the services and projects that you want. Together we can realise the potential of being the best region in the nation and having a Council of which we can be proud.