General News
11 March, 2026
Mudflats to city masterpiece
IN the early days, the Cairns foreshore was a place of simple pleasures. Swimming, boating and fishing were part of everyday life.
The tidal shallows and mangroves weren’t seen as obstacles but embraced as part of a young, growing town.
With a small population and tourism still decades away, the waterfront quietly served its purpose, until the risks began to outweigh the rewards.
As the city expanded and crocodile sightings and marine stingers became more common, the foreshore’s limitations for safe recreation became harder to ignore. But that all changed in the early 2000s.
Driven by a bold vision to reimagine the heart of the city, Cairns Regional Council, supported by state and federal funding, began a transformation that would change how locals and visitors connected with the sea.
The 2003 unveiling of the Cairns Esplanade and Lagoon marked the beginning of a new era.
A 4800sqm saltwater lagoon now gave people a safe place to swim in view of the Coral Sea, without crocodiles and stingers.
A wide promenade replaced the bitumen, inviting joggers, dancers, musicians and markets. Playgrounds, barbecue areas and public artworks followed.
This wasn’t just a development – it was Cairns claiming a front-row seat to paradise.
The Esplanade Lagoon fast facts:
The lagoon covers 4800sqm, holds 3.5 megalitres of water and is up to 135m wide, accommodating up to 1000 people at a time
Water depth ranges from 800mm to 1.6m
Saltwater is pumped from the inlet and treated through an advanced filtration system, processing four megalitres every four hours – equating to over 8 billion litres annually.
The lagoon attracts 100,000-150,000 visitors each month, with more than 25 million visitors since opening.
Structurally, the lagoon is supported by 326 concrete piles and built with 3700sq m of concrete reinforced by 500 tonnes of galvanised steel, including a base slab formed from 11 sealed concrete sections.
