by Kerry Larsen - kerry@thenewsport.com.au

Cairns Regional Council could endorse a 2000 square metre lagoon pool next to St. Mary’s by the Sea church this week, despite many members of the community voicing their opinions against the proposed location and size.

It comes after a public consultation period into the location of the lagoon – of which Council identified four possible sites – was conducted earlier this year, with criticism from the community that the information gathered was inaccurately reflected in Council’s findings.

CRC’s infrastructure services meeting set for this Wednesday will see councillors vote on one of three endorsements – to not accept the findings of the consultation period; to accept the findings and go ahead with the lagoon proposal (including the relocation of the nearby boat ramp and car park, carry out landscaping and road upgrades, and adopt a revised Waterfront Park Concept Design) or reject the findings on the lagoon and go ahead with the boat ramp, landscaping, and road upgrades and adopt the revised Waterfront Park Concept Design.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE COUNCIL’S INFRASTRUCTURE MEETING PROPOSAL AND REPORT FINDINGS


The three options will be the only options to vote on, despite a detailed deputation to Council by Port Douglas architect, Gary Hunt, in June, on an alternative plan in what was presented as “the community’s wishes”.

That plan came after many community members voiced their concern at the proposed lagoon’s close proximity to St Mary’s by the Sea church, the use of chlorinated water and inadequate size to cater for local population and tourist numbers.

Mr Hunt then cited the plan was also developed in keeping with the fragile coastal environment, with a larger, wet-edge lagoon to cater for projected tourist numbers using recycled sea water and at a lower construction cost than estimated by Council.

CLICK HERE TO SEE GARY HUNT’S DEPUTATION TO COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY’S COMMENTS


Immediately following Mr Hunt’s deputation to Council, Division five Cr Allan Blake requested to Council that Mr Hunt’s plans be put up for public consultation, with the results presented to Council on conclusion.
But that motion was never formally addressed as expected.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEWSPORT’S STORY ON COUNCILLORS’ SUPPORT FOR HUNT LAGOON

Dozens of comments to support Mr Hunt’s design were emphatically posted on The Newsport and other social media forums, and reader polls were used by Council to help draw their findings.

Mr Hunt fears this Wednesday’s meeting could see the wheels of motion put in place to approve a lagoon plan that does not accurately reflect the community’s wishes.

“In essence, if the Council adopts the recommendations, we will end up with a pool less than half the size of the one at Airlie Beach (similar population and visitors) right beside the church,” Mr Hunt said.

“The issue of car parking for the markets is disastrous... look at the numbers of cars near the markets on a Sunday and try and imagine where they will park under the proposed scheme.

“Based on, what is in my opinion, a totally biased community consultation process and flawed information, the Councillors are being asked to make a decision for what is arguably the most important piece of infrastructure this town could contemplate.”

Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, also took the issue to Federal Parliament in June to throw support behind Mr Hunt’s plan.

"I've been an advocate on the lagoon issue for a long time," Mr Entsch said.

"When I was first re-elected, I walked the site with Gary Hunt and John Morris and it was agreed this lagoon project was needed.

"I've seen the latest plans by Gary Hunt, they are sensational.

“He has done a fantastic job preserving the mangroves and cove near the Sugar Wharf and it complements the area… Mr Hunt has done a tremendous amount of work on this project.  It really should be a no-brainer.”

Division 10 Cr Julia Leu also threw her support behind a public consultation period for Mr Hunt’s community representation of their wishes.