General News
4 July, 2025
Handle with care
A CAIRNS Regional Council report has warned that a proposal for a safe harbour and lagoon at the northern end of Palm Cove would cost ratepayers “significantly” with several aspects out of its jurisdiction.
Architect Gary Hunt worked with Advance Palm Cove on a preliminary concept at the northern end, including a small harbour, a village green, swimming lagoon, playground, landscaped gardens and carparking. But it would also require the relocation of the caravan park.
The council report – noted by councillors at last week’s council meeting – said the state government had commissioned various feasibility studies to improve the current jetty.
“These studies have provided a range of options such as small wave breaks, however coastal processes, longshore sediment transportation, erosion and fish habitat considerations present significant risks,” it said.
“Any future solution would need to mitigate these risks whilst still achieving value for money.
“Parking is already a major constraint at the site and the development of a major marine tourism hub will most certainly amplify this issue.”
It said a substantial new car park would be required.
The report said a masterplan for the northern area of the esplanade did not recommend relocating the caravan park.
“Whilst not impossible, the relocation of the caravan park is not without significant risk and cost,” it said.
The report said the lessees had spent more than $1 million on the park and the council had invested more than $3m.
It said the council could not justify two major lagoons within its boundaries, there were plenty of aquatic leisure activities on the Northern Beaches, several lagoons and pools within resorts and hotels on the esplanade and a major water park was proposed at Kewarra Beach.
The report said the Cairns lagoon cost $4.2m a year to run.
“The significant cost and operational requirements of providing two lagoons in geographically disparate locations would both be financially out of reach and without precedent for a regional city such as Cairns,” it said.
Deputy mayor Brett Olds, who is the divisional councillor for the area, told last week’s fortnightly meeting that there were a few “excited’ residents who thought the council was making a decision on a new lagoon and the removal of the caravan park but he invited them to “calm the farm”.
He said the council report was “for noting” after Mr Hunt gave a presentation to councillors and at a community meeting earlier this year.
Cr Olds said during 2021-22 there was a lot of consultation with the community which led to a streetscape and landscape master plan for the Palm Cove esplanade which was unfunded.
He said a lot of assets in Mr Hunt’s proposal were controlled by the state and federal governments.
Cr Olds said when a community meeting was held earlier this year it turned “ugly and negative” with speakers against the proposal, including coastal and disaster expert Dr Johnathan Nott.
He said many people, who were for the idea, left the meeting and didn’t voice their support because they would have been verbally attacked.
“People can relax. Nothing will happen out there without extensive public consultation ever because it is so important and vital,” Cr Olds said.
Mayor Amy Eden said Palm Cove – the jewel in the region’s crown – deserved a future, that considered community feedback, was balanced and protected “what we love about it”.
After the community meeting, Advance Palm Cove (APC) president Robert van den Hoven said architect Gary Hunt’s vision for Palm Cove was an idea which people had been quick to condemn.
“Simply criticising without offering solutions does not help. Instead, we aim to foster discussions, generate ideas and push for action,” he said on the organisation’s Facebook page.
“If you have a serious proposal, let’s discuss it. Otherwise, constant negativity helps no one and Palm Cove will just continue to decline.”
