Palm Cove advocates push ambitious pre-elections agenda with local and state governments

While often described as the “jewel in Cairns’ crown”, advocates for growth are concerned government complacency is preventing a popular tourism suburb from achieving its full potential.

A beachside lagoon, a new school and a “functional” jetty top a long pre-elections wishlist for Palm Cove growth advocates.

While often described as the “jewel in Cairns’ crown”, advocates for growth are concerned government complacency, along with stagnated development, is preventing the popular tourism suburb from achieving its full potential.

According to Robert Van den Hoven, the president of advocacy group Advance Palm Cove, the patience of the town’s business owners and long-term locals has been stretched by years of stagnation.

“While many in the community profess Palm Cove is the jewel in the crown of Cairns, a lot of times the actions from the decision makers unfortunately don’t seem to line up with this sentiment,” Mr Van den Hoven said.

According to local advocates, Palm Cove has a lot of growth potential. But chronic government complacency and a lack of a compelling vision has prevented the iconic tourist attraction from advancing in recent years. Picture: Vince Sofia

“Palm Cove – the once so vibrant boutique village full of good restaurants, entertainment and events – was the reason people moved … from all around Australia. This has disappeared and this has to return.

“There is a lack of international tourists in Palm Cove.

“(The town has) three lots of vacant commercial land that has been land banked for up to 40 years. There is the possibility to develop these lots into five-star hotels, to meet future tourism demand.

“There are also many issues between body corporates and business owners, which has resulted in empty shops and the money that should have been spent on marketing going towards legal fees.”

Advance Palm Cove president Robert Van Den Hoven said its time for stagnation in Palm Cove to end. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Van den Hoven said visitation could skyrocket if the town had a functional jetty that could attract more cruise ship activity and swift state government action on Double Island.

“Double Island has now been dormant for 12 years. How much more time does the state government need,” he said.

“If we had a functional jetty, boats could pick up from Palm Cove and travel to the islands and the reef. Cruise ships could park behind Double Island and (smaller craft) could bring people to Palm Cove.”

Advance Palm Cove, hand-in-hand with Division 9 councillor Brett Olds, have also been pushing for a multi-use precinct on the former Cairns Tropical Zoo land, which would include a new school, commercial hub and a large quantity of carparking.

The idea was backed by Barron River MP Craig Crawford.

A new, functional jetty is one of the larger items on the town’s wishlist. Picture: Brendan Radke

This would alleviate multiple, chronic shortages in the suburb, according to Mr Van den Hoven.

“In Palm Cove carparking is a nightmare,” he said.

“There is also no state school north of Trinity Beach. We urgently need one.”

Denis Donaghy, another member of Advance Palm Cove, said Palm Cove was overdue renewed local government vision.

He said a swimming lagoon would be an exciting and appropriate development for the council to fix its sights to.

“A lagoon on the beach front would be sensational for year-round safe swimming without the need to pull nets in and out,” Mr Donaghy said.

Originally published as Palm Cove advocates push ambitious pre-elections agenda with local and state governments