A four-wheel drive which rolled on Four Mile Beach last week appears to have gained access to the beach near the recently-upgraded Port Douglas Esplanade.

Police have spoken to the registered owner of the Nissan Patrol who allegedly loaned the car to a visitor she met the same night, and say the owner cannot provided them with a name of the offender in order to press charges.

A considerable effort was needed to remove the written-off car from the beach, with two tow-trucks required.

Police says while it appears the car entered the beach between the surf life saving hut and Garrick Street entrance at the northern end of Four Mile Beach, the incident has highlighted issues surrounding the recent Cairns Regional Council-funded Esplanade upgrade.

Port Douglas Police Sergeant officer-in-charge, Damian Meadows, said the car could have easily entered the beach via the Macrossan Street end of the Esplanade, as there was no barrier from the road to the beach.

He added that certain safety recommendations provided by him to Council on the Esplanade upgrades appear to have been ignored, despite being asked for his input.

“I was asked to look at Council’s original plans, which had a traffic calming device in the middle, which I said would cause problems,” Sergeant Meadow told The Newsport.

“I also gave my thoughts on making it a one-way street, but my advice on traffic management appears to have not been taken into account.
 
“What we see there now shows none of the recommendations I offered on the original plans and is a vastly different plan that was shown to me.”

Residents have also been vocal recently regarding a lack pedestrian paths and an impression that the Esplanade is half-finished.

Sergeant Meadows says he was personally concerned about the lack of footpaths.

“With the current set-up, the footpath terminates at the Surf Life Saving Club, so people have to use the road to walk on, rides their bikes and push strollers with young children in.

“That is quite dangerous and something needs to be done,” he said.