Port Douglas’ famous heritage listed Sugar Wharf is to be protected under a set of guidelines ensuring its future as part of the town’s waterfront development plan.

The guidelines were adopted to ensure that any plans for the restoration, preservation and future use of the Sugar Wharf meets with requirements of the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).

In 2008 Cairns Regional Council commissioned a local architectural consultant to produce a conservation management plan to make certain that the integrity and character of the building is preserved.  

“The Sugar Wharf plays an important part in the Port Douglas Waterfront Plan and we want to work to preserve its heritage status,” Mayor Val Schier said.

“The wharf has undergone recent necessary restoration and these works will be tagged with a date in order to identify them as new.”

Council adopted a Conservation Management Plan prepared by architectural consultants and will formulate a comprehensive guide for future contractors employed to work on the building.  

Division 10 Cr Julia Leu said the 105 year old Sugar Wharf is the most significant historic building in Port Douglas as well as being in a stunning location.

“There is strong support to do everything possible to protect and conserve the building so the community can continue to enjoy using it,” Cr Leu said. 

“We will form an interim working group to resolve any community concerns and to develop key objectives for the future of the wharf.  

“Out of the working group we intend to identify stakeholders who will form a Community Management Group, helping Council to develop a set of guidelines for the economic and historic maintenance of the wharf," she said.