Palm Cove redevelopment concept meeting heats up with environment and cost concerns
A meeting discussing a Palm Cove redevelopment in a bid to boost infrastructure and foot traffic became heated, leading to some visitors walking out due to “overwhelming negativity”.
Cairns
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A public meeting discussing a re-imagined Palm Cove became heated, leading to some visitors walking out due to “overwhelming negativity”.
But community leaders say they won’t give up on a vision to redevelop the tourism haven, stating “something has to be done” to return the tourism hotspot to its former glory, while noting 11 commercial spaces were now vacant along the beach.
Port Douglas based architect Gary Hunt of Hunt Design released drawings of a re-imagined Palm Cove Esplanade, which would potentially include breakwater rock walls around the jetty to create a safe harbour and increase berthing of commercial operators.
The early stages concept also included converting part of the currently operating NRMA caravan park, on state land, into increased carparking, while building a nature park, lagoon and public facilities for a possible cafe and bar.
Mr Hunt said while he had not been commissioned to create the concept, it was a contribution from his firm towards ideas he believed were needed to help reinvigorate Palm Cove, while capitalising on the rebirth of Double Island.
Mr Hunt told the meeting of about 150 people on Wednesday night at the Palm Cove Surf Club that technical studies including environmental and engineering reports and economic analysis would be required in due course.
“This is just a loose scribble, a thought bubble if you like and I want to hear what you think, after this we might change things, or it may go nowhere,” he said.
The meeting, moderated by deputy mayor Brett Olds, was also panelled by Advance Palm Cove president Robert Van Den Hoven, who said whether the attendees at the meeting agreed with Mr Hunt’s vision, or another concept, “something needs to be done to bring Palm Cove to what it used to be”.
Among the concerns raised included how constructing rock walls would impact water and sand flow and cause possible erosion and impact marine life such as turtles, how new infrastructure would impact insurance costs and rates, and how the caravan park would be impacted, with an 18-year lease remaining.
But attendees continued to quiz the panel about environment and economic reports, with one member of the gallery questioning why Mr Hunt was given the platform to share his vision.
“There’s thousands of years of tourism experience in this room, why weren’t we consulted or why don’t we get an hour and 40 minutes to talk?” he asked.
Mr Olds said all ideas were welcome, with members of the public encouraged to speak with Advance Palm Cove to arrange meetings.
Cairns Chamber of Commerce chief executive Patricia O’Neill said she noted members of the meeting upset by the “negativity” filtering out over the hour.
“I didn’t expect it to be so negative,” she said.
“Anybody that shows passion and will to make Palm Cove a better place needs to be applauded, it’s not about ripping things apart, we’ve got destinations around the world ripping tourists from us because our products are dated.”
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Originally published as Palm Cove redevelopment concept meeting heats up with environment and cost concerns
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