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Visitors to the Daintree Coast are often surprised to find residential communities in parts of the rainforest where they expected to see uninhabited 'wilderness'. Tension rises when residents living on their own freehold land are thought to be 'living in the national park' or 'squatting on World Heritage land'. Very few of the 1083 freehold subdivisional blocks north of the Daintree River were included in World Heritage listing. Some residents have entered into Co-operative Management Agreements with the Wet Tropics Management Authority to conserve and protect their rainforest.
SUPPORTING THE LOCALS
Visitors are encouraged to forge links with the community by:
- visiting locally owned and operated walks and interpretive centres
- using local guides where possible
- buying local produce and souvenirs
- using local accommodation for extended stays
- taking rubbish home
LIVING ON THE DAINTREE COAST
If you get an opportunity, introduce yourself to local residents and let them describe firsthand what life is like on the Daintree Coast. It is not your normal suburban lifestyle - no mobile phones, limited television and radio reception, and no town sewerage system, water supply or grid power. There is a twice weekly mail service on Tuesdays and Fridays from the Mossman Post Office.
High rainfall and humidity make living in the rainforest quite different to living elsewhere. Rinforest residents learn to live with mould, low light and dampness. Good house design is essential. Comfortable living relies on keeping living areas cool and dry and make the most of available light. Raised floor construction helps to retain natural air flow and drainage. High ceilings and elevated air vents allow heat to rise and escape above head height, Large eaves protect walls from rain. Wide verandahs extend living areas and double up as clothes-drying areas in the wet season. Cupboards neet to be well ventilated, especially clothes and linen cupboards. Crazy as it may seem in such a warm climate, many houses have small combustion stoves or fireplaces to keep clothes dry.
The Daintree Coast is home to a diversity of animal and plant life - many of which are unique to this region. Living in harmony with the wildlife is not easy. Residents may experience White-tailed Rats chewing through waterlines, pigs attracted to the vegetable patch, and snakes discovering that a nice, dry house is a perfect place to wait out the wet season!
SOLAR POWER
The electricity grid is connected to only 12 properties in Forest Creek Road area and has not been extended since the State Government announced a moratorium on grid extensions in 1995. Underlying this policy is concern that extending mains grid power throughout the Daintree would accelerate land development. There is a scheme available for residents to purchase and install a remote area power system, which normally consists of an integrated photo-voltaic solar panel array, diesel or petrol generator, batteries and inverter. More than 150 houses have taken up this option, making it one of the largest solar powered communities in Australia. If you are staying in a Bed and Breakfast in the area, it is quite likely that you will experience the benefits of solar power, first hand.
(Extracts taken from 'A Handbook for Tour Guides - Daintree River to Cape Tribulation' pp1-10, 1-11, produced by the Wet Tropics Management Authority and the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency and funded by the Daintree Rescue Program)