by Mat Churchill


Mayor Val Schier has slammed Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch and his involvement in last week's lagoon pool meeting held at Bistro 3 with a number of invited residents.

Cr Schier claimed Mr Entsch has his own agenda. "Warren Entsch is trying to play politics with this and it's really disappointing," she said.

Cr Schier said there were many issues to consider, and rushing the process would be of no benefit in the long term."This gun ho approach is ill informed and irresponsible. The reality is the pool has to be safe, it has to have lifesavers, we need to understand the costs, security, maintenance.  All these need to be ascertained."

As reported in The Newsport article 'Waterfront committee making progress' (Tuesday 16 November), The Port Douglas Master Plan Advisory Committee has appointed feasibility consultants who will submit their report to the committee in March 2011.

Part of the feasibility study will address the ongoing costs of the lagoon pool, and Cr Schier shared her experience of the Cairns lagoon.

"It's a costly exercise to maintain it and ensure security and safety. The Cairns pool opened in 2003 and needed major maintenance this year and we closed it for eight weeks.

"We don't want it (the Port Douglas lagoon pool) to be a constant drain on resources, and we don't want something which will have an adverse impact on rates," she said.

Cr Schier said that despite early concerns from Cairns residents prior to the construction of their pool, it has become as popular with locals as it is with tourists.

Cr Julia Leu, who was involved in the Warren Entsch led meeting, reiterated the importance of community consultation to the Advisory Committee.

“The current plan we have for the Port Douglas Waterfront is the culmination of extensive engagement with community members coupled with a thorough planning process.  This has resulted in a strong feeling of local community ownership in giving them a say in the plan,” Cr Leu said. 

"A project of this size requires the Port Douglas community and all three tiers of government to work together which is exactly what we are doing. So far Council has allocated $1.2 million toward the implementation of the plan including the Four Mile Beach Esplanade upgrade.

“The feasibility study for the lagoon has commenced and I welcome all industry and community input.  It can then be assessed and scrutinised under this process," she said.