Esplanade lagoon closed for a month during peak tourist season
Tourists venturing from wintry southern states to Cairns during school holidays were dismayed to learn the Esplanade Lagoon would be closed from July 8.
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The Cairns Esplande Lagoon will be closed from Monday for biennial maintenance.
Maintenance, announced on June 21, will include servicing and repairs to the pool’s surface, lighting, pump systems and amenities.
Mayor Amy Eden said the pool needed “major maintenance every two years to keep it looking and operating at its best”.
“We know that there is no good time to close the lagoon – it is used by locals more than any other public asset in city, and it is also a huge drawcard for visitors,” Ms Eden said.
“However, based on patronage numbers, winter is the best time of the year for the shutdown, with the least amount of impact on the city.”
While the closure does not Queensland’s school holidays, with students returning on Monday, it has not proven popular with southern tourists.
South Australian visitor Talya Jaensch said it was a strange choice to close during school holidays.
“Travelling from freezing SA in July, our kids will be so disappointed,” she commented.
Visitors to Cairns said they were disappointed there was little notice of the closure.
“Very disappointing to close this during an interstate holiday period and only alert people a couple of weeks before the closure commences – we have booked an Airbnb without a pool for a family holiday, as we expected to be able to use the lagoon with our young children and nephews,” Tennyson Jaensch said.
“Discovering this just now is extremely disappointing for our upcoming holiday where we will be bringing valuable tourism dollars to the region,” he said.
The lagoon, which turned 20 in 2023, will need to be drained and the amenities building will also be closed.
Alternative public toilets are in Fogarty Park.
Meanwhile, council is seeking input on the provision of aquatic facilities, programs and services to develop a Cairns Aquatic Facilities Strategy.
It will consider the role, impact, opportunities and implications of aquatic facilities including Babinda Pool - Smithfield Pool, Tobruk Memorial Pool, Gordonvale Aquatic Centre, Woree Sports and Aquatic Centre, as well as waterholes, patrolled beaches and school and private pools.
Submissions close on July 29.
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Originally published as Esplanade lagoon closed for a month during peak tourist season
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