Blueprint for future of our city
PARKLANDS stretching further along the mudflats, a vastly lengthened Esplanade boardwalk and an open-air dining precinct all make the cut in a transformative new vision for the city.
Cairns Regional Council has unveiled concept art for a suite of redevelopments, starting in the north with a mangrove boardwalk and ending in the south with big changes for Fogarty Park.
The sketches are purely conceptual at this stage, and will be on display at the council’s stall at the Cairns Show and online for the public to make suggestions.
Deputy Mayor Terry James stressed no works had been approved.
“We asked for ideas and had about 2500 participants,” he said.
“We’ve converted their ideas into simplistic sketches for further consultation, and nothing is set in stone.”
There are no shortage of ideas in the council’s cartoonish images.
They outline a proposal to turn the Esplanade between Spence and Aplin streets, and Shields St from Abbott St to the Esplanade, into a shared pedestrian-vehicle thoroughfare, with widened footpaths, carparks removed and an outdoor dining precinct.
“We can reduce unpleasant traffic noise and fumes, and enhance the overall dining experience, by restricting parking to time-limited loading and drop-off bays in front of dining areas,” the document states.
A new mangrove boardwalk would wind around at the northern end of the Esplanade, linking up to an expanded Fun Ship playground and waterfront walkway with space for a commercial activity like a cafe.
A collection of seven viewing platforms of varying dimensions would be dotted along the mudflats, as well as a new Florence St pier for anglers and birdwatchers.
The new pier would mark the beginning of a 700m-long boardwalk reaching the Cairns Hospital, and the northern end of a roughly 300m extension to the Esplanade Parklands over existing mudflats.
“This opportunity will require further investigation of complex environmental matters,” the document acknowledges.
Muddy’s Playground would be in for major enhancements with “clearly defined play zones, age-appropriate equipment for all stages (from baby to pre-teen), and all abilities features”.
The last city-centre masterplan was completed under former mayor Val Schier in 2011, with the bulk of its recommendations, including the Lake and Shields streets redevelopments, now completed.
Other elements, including the “Greening of Grafton” project – which proposed the creation of a series of shaded parks along Grafton St to a new entertainment precinct – were abandoned.
Its replacement could take 10 to 15 years to reach its shelf life, depending on economics and the political appetites of future local governments.
Community consultation closes on August 15.