General News
12 November, 2026
Tin Shed land move halted
A BID by operators of The Tin Shed at Port Douglas to acquire the public land on which it sits has been rejected by Douglas Shire Council.
The Douglas Community and Sports Club (The Tin Shed) applied through the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development to buy the property overlooking Dickson’s Inlet.
A council report said the waterfront land was a community asset and, if it was sold, “council will lose any control it currently has over the land contained in the lease”. The report recommended against the sale.
Cr Abigal Noli said it was not “an easy decision because I do recognise the important role that Tin Shed plays in our community”.
“However, when I sit in this chamber, my responsibility is, not only to today’s users of the site, but to the entire Douglas Shire community, both now and into the future”, she said.
“So, we councillors, we are custodians of our community assets, and we have an obligation to consider the long-term interests of the Shire and the generations that will come after us.
“Once public land is transferred into freehold ownership, then that decision is effectively permanent and future councils lose the ability to influence how that land contributes to community outcomes.”
Cr Damian Meadows said The Tin Shed was “putting the cart before the horse”.
He said council was negotiating a long-term lease for the site.
“They didn’t wait for the outcome of council. They’ve decided to push forward with this unnecessarily,” Cr Meadows said.
“So, I’d just like to see this council in good faith continuing that negotiation and coming to a responsible outcome that will suit both council and the club itself,” he said.
Cr Michael Rees said it was “a very difficult decision because you want them to succeed”.
“They have to be acknowledged and I really hope where this lands after the negotiation with council that they continue to do that,” he said.
“They do a really fantastic job for the community, but I have to balance what they need and their contribution to the community, to the community needs and what comes out of the current arrangement we have ongoing. So it’s not an easy decision.”
Club general manager Kyle Livingston said it was one of two options the club was pursuing as it looked towards the long term.
He said the land purchase proposal was “not the be-all, end-all”.
Mr Livingston said the club was “not surprised” that the purchase application was rejected.
He said the club and council were working towards a 30-year lease and he expected a decision soon.
