Port Douglas could get new kids waterpark

BUDGET



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DOUGLAS Shire Council will investigate building a kids splash park in Port Douglas ‘to rival the Muddies Playground in Cairns’.

In announcing a record $16.49 million in capital works in yesterday’s budget, Mayor Julia Leu said they had committed $30,000 to complete a design of a ‘zero-depth’ water park or nature play space.

It comes after years of debate whether the resort town should build a swimming lagoon for locals and tourists to offset stinger season.

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“It is important that we make this stack up, find an appropriate location and get a feel for what the community wants,” Mayor Leu said.

“This project could give people another reason to not only visit our shire, but move and raise a family here.”

Council has committed to the second stage of the Port Douglas Waterfront South Precinct Plan, which will be released for community engagement and be ‘shovel ready’ within the next 12 months.

Whether the splash park could form part of a larger swimming precinct is still unclear.

It also comes as Cooktown opened a brand new splash park on the foreshore in the remote far north community yesterday.

Children playing in a new splash park on the foreshore in Cooktown. IMAGE: Facebook.

 

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