Page 37 - Tropic Magazine Issue 10

Industry
Planning

FEEDBACK
Readers respond to the idea on
TropicNow’s Facebook page

Before we close Cairns Esplanade,
let's address the parking problem
in the CBD.
Bill Cooper

Yes, yes, yes! It would be nice to be
able to eat without car fumes. I’ve
been saying this for the last 27
years.
Siss Watz

No! You need to keep vehicle access
down the full length of the
Esplanade, as well as the many
needed car parks.
Cathy Alexander

I reckon closing it would be great,
Transform the Esplanade but not if they just cater to tourists.
It's got to be great for locals too;
A concept to keep cars out of a family friendly, extra parking put
busy section of Cairns in nearby, diverse range of
Esplanade has sparked a restaurant price points. A giant
outdoor waterfront mall basically.
passionate community debate.
Rahman Schionning
Words Gavin King
To close or not to close? and hotel guests, all of a sudden there’s no
That’s the question a host of businesses, room on the footpath to accommodate Very good idea! Would give
local residents and politicians are everyone. “We should all be planning for businesses the opportunity to use
pondering when it comes to car traffic on that growth now because it will take time more area but council needs to
a busy block of Cairns Esplanade. Mark for consultation, planning, approvals, build more parking spaces nearby.
Frank Hennlein
Davie, CEO of Crystalbrook Collection, design and construction.”
kick-started a public – and at times Working group
heated – community debate about the Mr Davie believes a working group
concept. He believes the Esplanade area featuring Esplanade business owners and Give it a go. No reason why it can’t
between Shields St and Aplin St should be council representatives could formulate be closed for a specific time. May
closed to vehicles and transformed into a only be functional for half of the
landscaped, pedestrian-friendly zone, in the inspiration and ideas for the design year as we are in the tropics. It will
and practical aspects of the new zone,
part to cope with the combined growth in including access for deliveries and create a special cosmopolitan
tourism and the local population. Mr maintenance vehicles. “If the right people tropical city vibe. James McPeake
Davie wants to join forces with other came to a meeting with inspirations and
business owners on the Esplanade to
promote and plan the vision in ideas, you could put together 80% of the
plan in a day,” he says. “You would take all
partnership with Cairns Regional of that local knowledge and experience of Close the road in the late afternoon
and allow the existing venues to
Council.
Esplanade operators and the global spill out onto the road. Saw this in
Future growth experience of the people in our team, and a town in Mexico, complete with
Based on current levels of visitation, Mr you come together at the table to see how live music, and it was awesome.
Davie said people were already “crammed it could be designed to make it a key Chris Walker
into the footpath” along the Esplanade destination for wining and dining in
from Shields St to Aplin St. “Within our Cairns. It needs a commitment from the
team we’ve been talking and thinking council to put together a committee and Great idea but please think of
about this since we first acquired the old start working on a plan. We think locals wanting to eat in the city.
Bellview Hotel, and we’re very mindful something needs to be in place for Parking is hard as it is. Tourism
that if tourism continues to grow as we all mid-2020, when our hotel the Flynn plays a big part for Cairns but so do
hope and anticipate then you will get a opens, so as a rough timeline you could local people spending their money.
natural increase on the Esplanade,” he allow six months for consultation, Don't forget about locals like us
tells Tropic. “Add the Flynn Hotel on top of planning and design, a few months for who also wish to spend money.
that, which could bring in 1000 people per approvals and tender processes and then Selina Napper
night between the restaurants and bars allow 12 months for construction.”