Morrison Government to deliver Port Douglas Aquatic Park
Community
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr’s local government election promise in 2020 to secure an aquatic park in Port Douglas has received a huge financial injection with the Morrison Government investing $5 million to deliver the facility.
It is envisaged it will provide a safe year-round swimming facility for local families and visitors to the region.
Although the project needs to undergo community consultation which will involve potential locations and the type of facility, it will ultimately be up to Council to approve the development.
The $5m investment has already been budgeted. Should the Liberals fail to retain office on May 21, Labor will have the option of removing it from the budget or proceeding with the facility.
Labor’s support?
It is therefore of interest as the election campaign gets underway whether Labor’s Leichhardt candidate Elida Faith will support this development, which has long been in the waiting in Port Douglas.
According to Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch, who will announce the $5m injection in Port Douglas this morning, the project will be delivered in partnership with the Douglas Shire Council.
The facility will include an all-access pool to complement a contemporary zero depth nature water play area.
It will create new jobs for the region, including 200 jobs during construction and 30 local jobs once completed.
Entsch said the Port Douglas Aquatic Park formed part of his comprehensive plan for the community.
Much-needed project
“This is a much-needed project for the Port Douglas area with the only pool available to the public closing in late 2019,” Mr Entsch said.
“The lack of a safe, year-round swimming facility has certainly had negative impacts on the community and tourists who visit the area.
“While stinger nets at the nearby Four Mile Beach are deployed during summer months, it has been well documented they do not provide protection from smaller jellyfish such as the Irukandji.
“Four Mile Beach has also seen an increase in crocodile sightings over the past couple of years that has led to the temporary closure of the beach.
“This project, once completed, will certainly improve the liveability of locals and provide a safe swimming space for visitors to the region.”
Location
Although reiterating an earlier stand that Reynolds Park on Davidson Street was an ideal venue, Kerr said community consultation will decide the ‘what’ and ‘where’
It had also been suggested that the area near the church and the market be considered. However, parking would be a hurdle and an additional $15m would be needed to overcome the parking issue, said Kerr.
Kerr said this project is another example of two levels of government working together to deliver for the community.
“At the last local government election, I made a commitment to build a safe-swimming facility for Port Douglas with an ongoing cost realistic for ratepayers,” Cr Kerr said.
Reality
“This can now be a reality with the funding provided by Warren Entsch and the Federal Government.
“Council is moving forward with plans to build a custom-made water play area in Port Douglas and will be conducting further community engagement to help us finalise a location and design for a safe-swimming area.
“We understand the community has seen numerous plans before, but this funding provides an achievable pathway forward for our community.”