Locals are divided over Port hosting the IRONMAN Cairns bike leg on Sunday, with some up in arms over the road closures and others touting the tourism and economic value.

On Wednesday morning, The Newsport ran a short piece advising readers of the changed road conditions and road closures in place on Sunday, June 9, for the event. Among the major notices:

• Captain Cook Highway will be closed between Old Port Road and Palm Cove Boulevard, Palm Cove between 6am and 6:30pm.
• Macrossan St will be closed from 7am to 5pm, with access via a diversion route - Port Douglas Road will be down to one lane, and Davidson Street traffic will be diverted down Port Street onto Wharf Street.
• From 6am to 6:30pm, access to Cairns from Port Douglas will be via Mulligan Highway, Mt Molloy, Mareeba and Kuranda.

The Newsport Editor received some responses from readers staunchly opposed to the effective “shutdown” of Port and travel delays.  

“USM “estimates” 2-2 and a half hours Port to Cairns via Molloy (slightly optimistic?)” said Barry Daniels, of Cairns.“Some tourists may have a wasted/boring beginning/end of their holiday…Others just miss their flight. Or hold up/mess at airport…”

Port local Scott Clarksmith suggested USM “drive the route under Sundays' conditions before trying to justify the estimated time. They conveniently forget the additional traffic on these roads…”

“I think the first year [the bike leg came through Port] caught people off guard; they weren’t aware of the consequences,” said Jacky Cook, a mountain bike rider who’s lived in Port for 22 years. “Even if you told someone [about the road closures], they didn’t appreciate what was going to happen. And now, everyone is aware that you’ve just got to stay away."

“This event does nothing for Port Douglas,” argued Mr Clarksmith, adding he had seen no mention of the town on event publicity or television coverage. Parents and athletic ‘weekend warriors’ Mike Thurtell and his wife, Jean Macdonald, disagree. They’ve lived in Port for 18 years, and competed in last Sunday’s RRR Mountain Bike Challenge. Mr Thurtell is participating in the IRONMAN Cairns 70.3. “This pops up every year,” he said of the griping. 

Event organisers - formerly Cairns Challenge staff, now USM Events – issue an annual appeal for patience, saying the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term inconvenience. In 2012, The Newsport reported Port Douglas businesses criticising event organisers, saying the road closures made trading difficult. 

This year, concerns again highlight the possible impact on local traders, particularly Sunday’s Port Markets in ANZAC Park. “Stallholders may have had customers and had a decent day (a rarity lately).  But no one can get there,” said Mr Daniels.

However, USM Events’ Geoff Mayer told The Newsport before last year’s event, "like last weekend, with the Coral Coast Triathlon, we've got diversions - it's not roads closed as such, so you can still get down to the markets and the other end of Macrossan Street.”

Mantra Group,  who have six hotels in Port Douglas, said the road closures and possible traffic delays in Port Douglas this weekend are a small price to pay for having a high-calibre event such as the Cairns Airport Adventure Festival held in the region. “Mantra Group strongly supports the event and our Port Douglas resorts will benefit from the increased visitation to the region for the event," Area Manager Chris Northam said.

“Many athletes are extending their stay by booking pre and post event accommodation in Port Douglas with their families. Guests staying at a Mantra or Peppers property over the weekend have been notified of the event activity in the region and potential road disruptions – so far the feedback has been positive with many guests interested to know that such a unique event is taking place,” he said.

There have been calls among the opposition for Cairns to take the event back.

“…Keep Cairns in Cairns and don't interrupt our normal Sunday lifestyle, markets, retail and restaurants,” said Mr Clarksmith. “We have event organisers and suppliers in Port Douglas who can organise and supply…without importing all of the infrastructure from Cairns. These events can be conducted without all the money going south and will not disrupt the conduct of our Port Douglas Sunday.”

Event advocates warn if that happens, Port would still experience the travel delays, but none of the exposure and significant economic benefits. “They’d still close the highway as far as Thala Beach, and Port Douglas would be left out of all of it,” Mr Thurtell said, “they’re trying to include Port Douglas because we’ve lost the highway.”

Plus, some argue there's the Coral Coast Triathlon trade-off to consider. In 2011, the Coral Coast Triathlon, held annually the Sunday before IRONMAN Cairns, joined the Cairns Challenge festival (now Cairns Airport Adventure Festival). From the first Coral Coast in 1981, the event was a Cairns tradition, but with the new management came a new host - Port Douglas.

The Coral Coast is a major economic boost for Port, with thousands converging on the town before, during and after the event. However, Port was effectively 'given' the Coral Coast with the understanding the town would also host the Ironman bike leg the following week. Which raises the question: Is the Ironman-associated inconvenience worth the hassle, because Port gets the Coral Coast? Moreover, if the Ironman bike leg moved elsewhere, would the Coral Coast go with it?

While Port Douglas figures weren't available in time for publication, in 2011, then-Premier Anna Bligh said the event afforded an economic boost of $7.5 million for the Cairns region alone – more than double the original estimate of $3 million.

“I think it’s just a fabulous event for the area – obviously, I’m competing in it,” said Mr Thurtell.

“It’s one day. The naysayers just have to pull their heads in. They need to embrace it,” Ms Macdonald said.  

“A few naysayers in Port aren’t going to change what’s gone on. They really need to get on board with it,” agreed Mr Thurtell. “Embrace it, plan for it, enjoy it, revel in it. I think [USM Events is] doing Port Douglas a major favour, by incorporating Port into the event."

What do you think? Is it worth Port hosting the bike leg on Sunday, because of the tourism and economic benefits, and the Coral Coast Triathlon the week before? Let us know!