Eyes have it for wheel
Council votes to extend lease for attraction
Cairns Esplanade’s Reef Eye ferris wheel will stay in place for another two-and-a-half years but the city’s councillors are concerned about its extreme weather resilience.
Councillors voted unanimously on Wednesday to extend the vivid attraction’s lease until January 31, 2026.
Division 7 councillor Max O’Halloran said the outcome was “fantastic”.
“It’s made a highlight on the Esplanade … it activates it, it gives (the area) the appearance of happiness, especially for younger people,” Mr O’Halloran said.
The attraction has been a hit with both locals and tourists.
Division 8 councillor Rhonda Coghlan said the attraction, which earned the council $161,000 in seven months thanks to a 10 per cent cut of ticket sales, had been beneficial for the city’s social media profile. “When it comes to Instagram views, surely this has made such a big impact in that space so quickly … it’s definitely become an iconic part of the Esplanade,” Ms Coghlan said.
Other councillors expressed concern about the structure’s resilience to cyclones.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said he had no doubt a strong cyclone would lift the Reef Eye “off the ground”.
Deputy Mayor Terry James said a cyclone management plan should be the focus of the council’s future engagement with the attraction’s owners.
“Without changing the recommendation (to keep it) … it’s worth looking into their cyclone management plan … that we’re not held responsible in any way … in the event (their plan) says this thing can be held down in a cyclone and then suddenly fails and someone gets hurt,” Mr James said.