Lagoon expected to transform town’s economy

A RECREATIONAL lagoon sprawling across 1.5ha is predicted to transform Charters Towers.

The $ 3 million development is expected to create dozens of jobs and inject $ 2.5 million into the town’s economy each year.

The lagoon will use cuttingedge water filtration and conservation technology and will be built by Tarleton Property Group at its Kernow Charters Towers site.

Charters Towers councillors threw their support behind the plans at Wednesday night’s October general meeting.

They were briefed on the lagoon on Tuesday by Tarleton’s Les Bone and Crystal Lagoons Oceania regional director German Rocco.

At the meeting, Mr Bone said the project would transform Charters Towers’ economy and overall lifestyle.

“There are great benefits for us ( at Tarleton) to build this project, and that’s why we are interested in investing the money, but I believe there are also huge knock- on effects that will trickle down into the town,” Mr Bone said.

“I am so impatient to get this started … it is going to be a total game- changer.” Mr Bone said construction the lagoon, which would of cost about $ 3 million, could start as early as April and would take around 12 months.

It will be split into private and public sections and be surrounded by residences as well as cafes, restaurants, bars and other entertainment venues.

At a maximum depth of 2.5m, the lagoon will need to draw around 100ML of water from the council’s allocation for its initial fill, and up to 25ML each year.