By Kerry Larsen

Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, has thrown his support behind the Port Douglas lagoon project by highlighting the issue in Federal Parliament last week.

In his address on economic solutions for Far North Queensland, Mr Entsch told Parliament the lagoon project was "desperately needed" and "cannot see why the Government does not commit to such issues".

Speaking to The Newsport this week, Mr Entsch said he had been involved with the lagoon project since his re-election to the seat of Leichardt, and had nothing but praise for the commitment and latest designs of architect, Gary Hunt that appeared in The Newsport article 'Hunt's lagoon revealed' (Wednesday 1 June).

"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.

"Council has spent $1.2 million on consultation and feasibility studies on this project. And the Mayor has suggested there are not enough funds for a Regional Development Australia application for this lagoon.

"Yet Mr Hunt has done a tremendous amount of work on this project.  It really should be a no-brainer. I can't understand why bicycle tracks (in Cairns) are being built instead the Port Douglas lagoon."

While Mr Entsch has been criticised for not pursuing infrastructure projects in his earlier term as MP, he says the lagoon is one of two important infrastructure requirements needing attention within Port Douglas, citing the Sheraton Mirage redevelopment as another project of significance.

"Obviously I've been working with David Marriner on the Mirage redevelopment," he said. "But the Mirage and the lagoon project are two critical infrastructure requirements that need attention."

Mr Entsch said he was lobbing Regional Development Minister, Simon Crean, "to get the Mirage project across the line" and had been working with Mr Marriner, "re-jigging" the Government's requirements for the redevelopment.

Mr Entsch said details of the amended Sheraton Mirage proposal were not available.

Meanwhile Cairns Regional Council are continuing to review feedback on the lagoon project received during the public consultation process.

"As previously stated, all feedback received during the public consultation period will be considered as part of the planning process," a Council spokesperson said.

"The public consultation period was designed to give every resident and stakeholder the chance to have their say and be heard - there have essentially already been several public meetings.

"Costings have been produced by experts and the most feasible site has been identified and thoroughly assessed. The focus now needs to be on progressing the project - utilising the feedback from the public consultations - to a point where government funding can be secured."

Asked if this meant that the considerable feedback presented to Council, including The Newsport readers' comments and designs by Hunt Design and Hortulus Landscape Design would be ignored, the spokesperson replied "This is not a hard and fast rule."