Information sessions about Port’s new lagoon

DOUGLAS Shire residents have a chance to ask questions of key council staff and the landscape designer behind the lagoon vision for Port Douglas at a series of two-hour community engagement sessions today.

The shire council in September unveiled a vision to build Australia’s first chemicalfree public swimming hole next to Four Mile Beach.

World-renowned designer Phillip Johnson, who won Best in Show at the 2013 RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, will also use his visit to meet nearby business operators and present to the business community at a Douglas Chamber of Commerce breakfast.

The first of three public sessions will begin at 10am at the Port Douglas Community Hall tomorrow. The sessions will give the public a chance to learn more about the project.

Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu encouraged the community to bring all their ideas to the table.

“We want to give everyone the best opportunity to come along, hear all the information and ask any questions they feel are unanswered,” she said.

“The lagoon has the potential to be a really special project for our beautiful shire and council would love to have strong buy-in from the community to help shape it.

The council has earmarked land around the Port Douglas Life Saving Club for the project, which would be town’s first public crocodile and stinger free-swimming area.

Other speakers will include council staff, who will outline the business case, reasons for the proposed location and discuss the major challenges.

A list of frequently asked questions and key facts will be published on the council’s website later this week.