Community
23 March, 2024
Fix up ‘shabby’ gateway
PROMINENT land owners in Abbott St, Cairns, have joined forces to call for an upgrade of the key inner city strip and are calling on the next Cairns Regional Council to make it a priority.
Frank Gasparin, Ghassan Aboud, Alex Sekler, Paul and Mark Kamsler and Frank and Vince Pappalardo have thrown their support behind the call for an upgrade of Abbott St.
Developer Frank Gasparin originally floated the idea of an Abbott St upgrade through his self-funded Rodeo Drive concept.
He said it did not need to be called that or even be that concept, but something needed to be done.
“The inner city is a ghost town most days and along Abbott St, in particular, it is in great need of a facelift,” Mr Gasparin said.
“Revitalisation and beautification of Abbott Street needs to be given council’s top priority as it is the first thing people see when they disembark from the cruise liner terminal.
“Visitors to our city arrive to a shabby inner-city street that could be given some TLC at very minimal expense.”
The Pappalardos, fellow property owners on Abbott Street and founders of the WholeLife Pharmacy and Healthfoods Group said “after the magnificent upgrade of the Cairns Esplanade dining precinct, we believe it is only fitting that the neighbouring Abbott St be given some attention to ensure the city of Cairns is represented at its best to visitors.”
“With well over 100 cruise ships arriving into the city each year, it is a significant amount of tourists,” they said.
Crystalbrook Collection and GA Group founder Ghassan Aboud said “our gateway to the city, whether it be at the airport, via road on the highways into the city, or at key traffic points, such as the Cairns wharf, needs to be a captivating, welcoming view with great visual and aesthetic appeal”. “After all, first impressions count. The reality is, Abbott St is looking very tired and is in great need of upgrading and we believe the concept Gasparin Group have put forward to be an outstanding start on what can be achieved.”
The Kamsler family said “our confidence in Abbott St stands for all to see with our most prominent Abbott St property, Art Work Spaces”.
“The future of Abbott St is not just about landscaping, paving and other enhancements. It’s also about lazy property owners stepping up to invest in improving their properties to complement the vision of re-positioning Abbott St to link seamlessly with the cruise ship terminal and serve as the catalyst to arrest the decline of a once thriving CBD,” said Paul Kamsler.
Liral Group managing director Alex Sekler, who plans an $80m tower in Abbott St, said “my hope is that the politicians keep the promises they made during elections, after the elections are over.”
