Why Cairns’ quest to become tourism powerhouse must start on foot, Crystalbrook Collection CEO, Geoff York says

Forget luxury vehicles and airconditioned buses. Well-worn sneakers and dodgy pluggers can take Cairns on the path to tourism’s promised land, a major hotelier says.

Tourists walk along the Esplanade Dining Precinct near the Crystalbrook Flynn hotel in Cairns’ CBD. Cairns Regional Council spent $28m upgrading the waterfront precinct between Shields Street and Aplin Street in a bid to attract more foot traffic and discourage vehicles from using the thoroughfare. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns’ journey to becoming a world-class tourism destination starts with closing part of the Esplanade to vehicles and encouraging visitors to stroll through the heart of our city, a major hotelier says.

But a councillor has warned travellers could abandon the waterfront precinct if motorists are moved on too quickly and nothing is done with the existing space.

Crystalbrook Collection CEO Geoff York has referenced Barcelona’s cityscape and the famous La Rambla as a potential source of inspiration for Cairns city planners. Image: istock

Citing popular tree-lined pedestrian streets across the globe, including the famed La Rambla in Barcelona, closing the road between Shields and Aplin St could be part of a CBD revival, Crystalbrook Collection CEO Geoff York said.

“The issue with the dining precinct is that during the day you’ve got cars driving along there,” Mr York said.

“Someone’s going to get knocked over because they think it’s pedestrian free.

“At five o’clock at night, a barrier should go up and you shouldn’t be able to go (drive) along the Esplanade.”

Crystalbrook Collection CEO Geoff York says vehicles shouldn’t be allowed to drive along the Esplanade’s dining precinct after 5pm. Picture: Brendan Radke

Newly re-elected Division 9 Councillor Brett Olds said the idea had merit but added closing roads could have “unintended consequences”.

“Commercial vehicles still need to be able to access their businesses,” Mr Olds said.

“If you’re going to take away any type of activation, you need to replace it with something that brings people into the space.

“The risk is it looks like a ghost town. Have a look at Shields St for instance.

“If you’re going to close off a street and not activate it with something else, you risk losing everything.”

Division 9 councillor Brett Olds says further consultation is needed before changes can be made to traffic conditions along the Esplanade. Picture: Brendan Radke

Forming a committee and exploring alternative options in partnership with stakeholders would be a good start, Mr Olds said.

“My guess is you’d have a lot of different opinions from business owners along the Esplanade,” he said.

“But if we’re going to get it right, we need to get some smart people in a room together and plot a plan out.

“CBDs all over the world are dying and our Esplanade is awesome. We still have the lagoon, beautiful restaurants and so much more to offer.”

A tourist walks along the quiet Esplanade Dining Precinct near Cairns Night Markets on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr York’s comments follow Crystalbrook founder Ghassan Aboud’s searing takedown of the city’s leadership last week with the billionaire calling the CBD a “graveyard”.

“I think the city needs to get its mojo back,” Mr York said.

“I know there is a proposal that we have backed for the beautification of Abbott Street – let’s do something with that.

“It’s about going out with a good news story about why you should come back to Cairns. There are new attractions.”

Following its $28m upgrade in 2021, the Esplanade dining precinct roadway was legally closed to motorists with the exception of commercial vehicles, including delivery drivers, taxis and tradespeople with a 10km/h speed limit where pedestrians have right of way.

Originally published as Why Cairns’ quest to become tourism powerhouse must start on foot, Crystalbrook Collection CEO, Geoff York says