Plans unveiled for Cazalys Northside at former Tjapukai cultural park
Putt-putt golf, 10 pin bowling, jumping castles and sandpits have been proposed in a game-changing kids entertainment and family dining venue planned for the old Tjapukai cultural park.
Cairns
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Plans for a new $20m venue set to change the game on kids entertainment and family dining have been submitted to Cairns Regional Council for approval.
Cazalys Group announced a $10m acquisition of the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park at Smithfield in December.
Plans are now well advanced to transform the long dormant Indigenous tourist attraction into a vibrant, family-friendly community hub, to be known as Cazalys Northside.
Cazalys general manager Jason Wale said on Tuesday that planning documents have been lodged with council and the next step would be securing development approval before construction of new facilities would go out to tender.
“After Cazalys bought the site, my phone went red hot and the one thing people were saying is we really need some really good kids facilities,” he said.
“The people want a safe, modern venue where parents can unwind, kids can play and everyone feels welcome and that’s exactly what Northside will deliver.
“We are planning a significant kids area far better than what we have seen before.
“The main focus is the dining and the kids areas, they are key things we want to achieve. It will be head and shoulders above everything in Cairns.
“This is in development but we have ideas for putt-putt golf, 10 pin bowling and remote control boats, jumping castles and internal and external playground equipment and sandpits.”
BSPN Architecture has been tasked with blending a cafe, restaurant, sports bar, children’s play areas and lush outdoor spaces into one dynamic venue at 4 Skyrail Drive.
Mr Wale said the venue’s design reflected Cairns’ tropical lifestyle, with open-air dining, interactive play zones, and shaded terraces overlooking the lagoon and rainforest hills.
He said it was too early to say exactly how much the redevelopment would cost, but Cazalys had earmarked about $20m for the project.
“Northside is set to become a new destination for both residents and visitors,” he said.
“We think the community will be very excited and when they see it in real life, it will be something special.
“For decades we’ve backed grassroots sport, upgraded facilities and helped build stronger, healthier communities across the region. Northside will continue that tradition.
“And every dollar we make gets reinvested into the community.”
Cazalys Northside would be located adjacent to Skyrail and the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum and the project would create more than 120 new jobs while complementing the original Cazalys Cairns venue on Mulgrave Rd.
Originally published as Plans unveiled for Cazalys Northside at former Tjapukai cultural park
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