General News
24 March, 2023
Lagoon’s 20th birthday bash
Family celebrations to mark the popular Esplanade attraction’s milestone
ONE of the biggest 20th birthday parties staged in Cairns is being held next weekend to celebrate a key milestone of the Esplanade Lagoon.
On Saturday, April 1, 2023, the Lagoon turns 20 and Cairns Regional Council has organised a free family-friendly event from 3pm to 9pm.
It includes free admission on the Reef Eye, live entertainment, children’s activities and a movie night from 7pm with more details to be announced next week.
About 25 million people have enjoyed the Queensland-shaped pool which is used by locals as well as Australian and overseas visitors. It opened on Saturday, March 29, 2003.
Nick Dalton and Isabella Guzman Gonzalez
ONE of the most significant foreshore developments in Cairns – the Esplanade Lagoon – will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a community celebration next weekend.
A free family-friendly event will be held at the Lagoon on Saturday, April 1, from 3pm to 9pm. It includes free admission on the Reef Eye, live entertainment, children’s activities and a movie night from 7pm.
About 25 million people have enjoyed the Queensland-shaped pool which is used by locals as well as Australian and overseas visitors.
The popular attraction was opened by then-Premier Peter Beattie on Saturday, March 29, 2003 after a three-year gestation period.
MASTER PLAN DEVISED
It was part of a $32 million Esplanade master plan, funded by the former Cairns City Council, state and federal governments, with the state chipping in at least $11m.
It was the idea of former mayor Kevin Byrne, who after being elected in 2000, made the redevelopment of the Esplanade a priority of his reign.
After Townsville received state government funding for the Strand, Mr Byrne said he was determined that Cairns would get similar funding for the Esplanade.
But he said it was vital to get the agreement of the port authority, now Ports North, as the council and ports land overlapped.
“We needed to collaborate with the port but chairman Ron Ireland was a visionary. Some years previously I had been to Boston and saw how a working port was integrated with the CBD. The same had to happen in Cairns,” Mr Byrne said.
A small team of Mr Byrne, Mr Ireland, then-port chief executive and now Cairns Mayor Bob Manning and council chief executive David Farmer worked on a master plan.
SAND TRUCKED IN
As part of the project the council bought a cane farm at Yorkeys Knob for sand that was trucked to reclaim the area for the lagoon over six months. It took another nine months to stabilise.
Mr Byrne said the lagoon was deliberately shaped as Queensland to appease a small but vocal opposition group who argued that ratepayers should not be funding something for tourists.
“We had to counter that and create something special that was unique,” he said.
Another locals’ aspect were the woven fish sculptures by Indigenous artist Brian Robinson.
He said the fish were another special part of the lagoon and which were “recognised around the world.”
AMAZING OPENING
Mr Byrne said the opening was like nothing he expected. At least 10,000 people attended.
“We had two trains full of people travel for free from Innisfail. I wanted it to have a regional profile,” he said.
“The opening vindicated our determination to keep going on the Esplanade. I had the full support of council.”
Mr Byrne said after the Lagoon came Muddy’s Playground and other facilities such as the beach volleyball courts and skate park.
PROUD FOUNDER
“Today when I walk along the Esplanade early in the morning or in the evening I couldn’t be more prouder,” he said.
Cr Manning said the redevelopment of the Esplanade and the opening of the Lagoon “were monumental for Cairns, and they have had a lasting positive impact on the foreshore”.
“The construction of the Lagoon reshaped the city and positioned the area as a ‘mustdo’ for visitors, while also providing a free, family-friendly facility for locals to enjoy,” he said.
BEACON FOR TOURISTS
“It quickly became the most used facility in the city for locals and from the moment it opened, it was a beacon for international travellers.
“It also was the catalyst for increased investment in the city from the private and public sector and continues to be a focal point of the city.
“It is important to recognise former mayors Tom Pyne and Kevin Byrne and their respective councils for their foresight and vision in transforming the Cairns Esplanade into the iconic destination it is today, and will continue to be in the future.
“The state and federal governments also need to be acknowledged for their funding support of the Cairns Esplanade redevelopment, as well as the part played by the Cairns Port Authority.
CITYPORT PROJECT
“The Cairns Esplanade foreshore redevelopment coincided with the Cairns Cityport project being undertaken by the Cairns Port Authority.
“The port authority initially allocated about $6m for the development of Cairns CityPort project, which transformed a section of the waterfront from The Pier and the Cairns Hilton Hotel, providing a waterfront tourism precinct next to the Cairns CBD.
“I recall that while the projects were being undertaken separately, it was important that we worked collaboratively to ensure there as a smooth transition of the waterfront experience from CityPort across to the Esplanade redevelopment.”
QUIRKY FACTS AND FIGURES
• The lagoon provides a safe swimming location, the sandy bank is perfect for children to play and build sandcastles, and the decks and grassy areas are a popular spot for relaxing.
• On average the lagoon is used by 100,000 to 150,000 people each month, but these numbers are impacted by the time of the year. It is estimated that it has hosted 25 million visitors.
• It attracts well over one million visitors a year (locals and tourists) and the Our Cairns survey, conducted in 2020 with more than 8000 respondents, rated the Esplanade Lagoon as the city’s most used recreational facility.
• Has a capacity of 3.5 megalitres, has an area of 4000 square metres, is 1.6m at its deepest points and 135m across its longest section.
• Four megalitres of water is filtered, sanitised, and chemically balanced every four hours.
• On average, six people are assigned to look after the Lagoon and Muddy’s, who are responsible for water balancing, testing, chemical dosing, cleaning, plant room checks and repairs, customer service, amenity checks, safety inspections, nightly pool cleaning and vacuuming, barbecue cleaning, and rubbish collection and disposal.
• There are also at least two, sometimes three, lifeguards on duty during operating hours.
What users think about the ‘big splash’
Anneleise and Tahliqua Kingsburra from Edmonton
“We regularly come to have a swim at the Lagoon, mainly when it’s hot and it’s awesome that it’s free instead of going to the swimming pool and having to pay for a swim. It’s free, always open, and relaxing,” Ms Kingsburra said.
Robyn and granddaughter Pippa Anning of Cairns
“The Lagoon is great; we come down here every Monday for three hours and it’s good that it’s free, they shouldn’t charge for it,” Ms Anning said.
Laura Winther and Anna Bleeg from Denmark
“It’s a great idea because it’s one of the only opportunities you get to swim during stinger season and it’s a nice place to chill out. The views are nice, it looks like a beach and it’s not too crowded,” Ms Winther said.
“It makes sense to have a pool when you can’t swim in the ocean,” Ms Bleeg said.
