By Roy Weavers

The proposed Grafton Street remodelling will be put on hold until an overall view of transport and traffic movement system in the city is defined.

Under a strategic plan to revitalise the city centre a key objective for Cairns Regional Council will be to develop  a model that allows traffic to flow into the city while maintaining a pedestrian friendly environment and ensuring business sustainability.

Mayor Val Schier said the revitalisation strategy was broad and ongoing and included investigation into on and off street parking.

“The Queensland Government has begun planning for a new transit network for Cairns that includes building a public transport network linking suburbs such as Palm Cove, Redlynch and Gordonvale via the city centre,” Cr Schier said.

“Changes to Grafton Street traffic flow and parking configuration will be put on hold until wider traffic factors are considered, but the plan for the cultural heritage trail will continue to develop in the meantime.”

“The continuation of Lake Street to intersect with Airport Drive has been mooted for years and Council will be trying to work on planning that with the state government,” Cr Schier said

Council has engaged a consultant to develop a traffic model of the CBD that will provide planners with the ability to apply proposed traffic flow or road alignment to the model. The simulated outcomes will allow predicted impacts to guide future planning.

Division 5 Councillor, Alan Blake said the traffic planning model was a very useful and accurate tool.

“Council needs to be looking at the future of the CBD and traffic flow will be fundamental to planning pedestrian access, landscaping and parking,” Cr Blake said.

Editors Comments: Whilst I'm delighted for the residents of Palm Cove, Redlynch and Gordonvale that they are going to get an improved public transport network, I would like to remind Cairns Regional Council that a public service of any kind between Mossman and Port Douglas would also be a wonderful idea.  You want to try getting to work with no public transport network at all.