DREAM OR REALITY? Debate again hots up online as residents push for, discuss merits of Bowen, Airlie beach styled lagoon for Port Douglas

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Michael Warren

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Local residents are pushing for a Bowen or Airlie Beach styled lagoon for Port Douglas. Picture: Supplied

Just days after Douglas Shire Council finally confirmed its expected timeline for the much discussed and long overdue Port Douglas splash park residents have turned their attention back to lobbying for another much sought after town asset - a year round accessible lagoon pool to rival like those in Bowen or Airlie beach. 

The discussion around Port Douglas proudly having its own notable lagoon pool has proved a conversation point and lingered for years around the Shire.

Too much to maintain some have said, a brilliant idea and much needed others have noted, in general, however the consensus is that most residents would welcome a lagoon pool in Port Douglas.

 

The biggest questions remains, however, would those who desperately want such a facility in their Shire still support the project if they knew in advance it would mean roughly a $200-$300 spike in their annual rates?

In Council’s very own brochure released to Douglas Shire residents between February 17 to March 3 last year it said  any future lagoon in Port Douglas would have an approximate $25M capital cost, be around $2M annually to operate, and have a 5.3% impact on Douglas Shire rates.

“The design for the Port Douglas splash park will consider future opportunities for an immersion water facility (either pool or lagoon) at the same location as part of its scope,” former Mayor Michael Kerr told Newsport on September 18 last year.

“This will be used to inform future decisions.”

Just moments after the lagoon discussion hotted up on Newsport’s Facebook page new Councillor Damian Meadows moved in to comment on the issue.

“Answer me this, what would be the annual ongoing running cost and how would that impact the budget?” Mr Meadows asked a Newsport reader.

“Add to that the requirement for a full time lifeguard. Now divide that cost by the number of ratepayers. That will give you your rate increase just for maintenance and running, not construction.

“Plus State and Federal Governments will expect 1/3 of construction costs to be done by DSC, so let’s say a start up of $5M each… Cairns cost $17M over 25 years ago.”

Despite this Newsport wants you to have your say. Answer our question, take the poll and have your say on the merits of a lagoon for Port Douglas.

 

 

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