A far north Queensland architect wants to revive plans to develop an $18 million swimming lagoon in Port Douglas which he says will provide 'a huge economic boost' to the region.

Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey stopped short of endorsing the project but said public swimming lagoons had been successful in other Queensland towns.

Gary Hunt of Hunt Design said a 4200-square metre swimming pool near Stinger Park had the potential to keep visitors in the region for longer, increase revenue for retailers and provide a meeting place for young people.

"We don't need big decks, we don't need to make it an urban pool," he said. 

"It's not Cairns. The pool in Cairns looks fabulous but it looks fabulous in Cairns. It wouldn't look fabulous up here."

Mr Hunt cited a need to 'increase the suite of attractions' in the region as further impetus for the project to go ahead. 

The former member of the Port Douglas Waterfront Committee said Airlie Beach's lagoon - which opened in 2001 - served as a good model for the community. 

"Airlie Beach has got a similar resident population and similar visitor numbers and it has a very successful and very popular swimming pool," Mr Hunt said. 

"After it was built, the average duration of stay there went up by a third.

"If we can just get an extra day here, that's huge the impact it's going to have on the community.

"The retailers in Airlie [Beach] saw a significant increase in trade, families had a new safe venue for kids and teenagers got a meeting place during holidays and weekends."

The lagoon proposal emerged from the Cairns Regional Council's Port Douglas Waterfront Master Plan in 2009 which found that a swimming lagoon should be completed 'as soon as possible'. 

But protracted discussions over the location, cost and funding of the lagoon stalled progress, leading to ongoing debate within the community.

Ms Stuckey said the lagoon looked like a 'beautiful project' but added it was up to the community to secure funds.

"What I saw was an opportunity for the people of Port Douglas to have something that will fit perfectly with their environment," she said.

"But it is private enterprise that is the doer. 

"Government will always look at projects that are of strong economic benefit but ... the government is the enabler. You are the doers.

"It must be a community driven project."