Cairns Esplanade traffic shutdown: Restaurants await decision
The fate of the “nard run” hangs in the balance with Cairns Regional Council set to finally decide whether to block traffic along the Esplanade outdoor dining precinct.
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THE fate of the “nard run” hangs in the balance with Cairns Regional Council set to finally decide whether to block traffic along the Esplanade outdoor dining precinct.
A proposal to make the glitter strip pedestrian-only between Shields and Aplin streets has been rattling around since its $28m overhaul was in the planning phase.
The council failed to arrive at a consensus at its last meeting a fortnight ago – but the hammer drops on Wednesday.
Flynn hotel owner Crystalbrook Collection has made repeated pleas for a pedestrian-only plaza at peak dining times, but not everyone is sold.
Oasis Kebab and Pizza owner Kellee Martorella believed the drive-past stickybeak – known as a “nard run” – was an important way to attract new customers.
She feared disabled and elderly residents would lose access, and limits on commercial vehicle access hours would cause operational headaches.
“I prefer the cars,” she said.
“I think closing it off would be a mistake for businesses.
“It’s a long walk for someone who just wants to have a little look for later.
“At the moment we can get all of our deliveries at our convenience. We all open different hours, and I’m not going to run in at 7am when we don’t open until lunch time.”
Several options are on the table, including a complete shutdown to non-commercial vehicles and limiting the speed to 10km/h. Commercial vehicles may also be locked out from 11am-11pm, depending on how the vote goes.
Whatever the decision, something needs to be done.
“Queensland Police Service consider that no amount of enforcement will adequately mitigate the risks to pedestrians, thus a traffic engineering solution is recommended,” a council report stated.
It also said parents with children had been observed walking along the road like it was a footpath, and cyclists rode straight across without realising it was an active road.
Ms Martorella said her section of the road appeared safe.
“Just up from us, there’s the walkway across the road in front of the Bavarian Beerhouse,” she said.
“It’s not like Lake St where people walk across to PJ O’Briens.
“That’s two-way traffic, ours is just one-way.”
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Originally published as Cairns Esplanade traffic shutdown: Restaurants await decision
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