Community
16 February, 2024
Plan for Palm Cove walking street could take a decade
PALM Cove resident and tourism and hospitality consultant John Felan is on a mission to transform Williams Esplanade in the seaside resort village to a pedestrian-only promenade.
But, he said, it hinged on traffic access being provided through private land on what is known as Lot 100 between Amphora St to Caryota St and French St to the esplanade and a car park being built in Cedar Rd so people could be bused to the waterfront.
Mr Felan said his ‘Palm Cove Vision’ was about health and safety as the esplanade was becoming too busy and dangerous for people crossing the road from their hotels or resorts to the beach and vice-versa.
He said the street was too narrow for traffic, there was not enough parking and Palm Cove was promoting itself as a health and vitality destination.
Mr Felan said Cairns Regional Council could duplicate what had been done on the CBD’s Esplanade between Shields St and Aplin St where only commercial, emergency and council vehicles were permitted.
He said at Palm Cove there would need to be access for commercial vehicles for deliveries and special permits for users where there was no direct access to their properties. Access from Lot 100 was vital.
“This is about Palm Cove Promenade. Back in 1992 (developer) Leigh Ratcliffe published the Palm Cove strategy plan which promoted the complete pedestrianisation of Williams Esplanade,” Mr Felan said.
“He designed and financially contributed to the paving and contouring of Williams Esplanade, creating the esplanade as we know it today. That was in the Mulgrave Shire Council days. That’s as far as it got.
“As a long-time Palm Cove resident and business owner I’ve participated in Palm Cove tourism vision groups which have included council from time to time. I’ve presented and promoted the case for Palm Cove Promenade at those workshops.
“Yet, in spite of the fact that there is no other traffic management solution going forward, council is still reluctant to adopt a vision of a pedestrianised Palm Cove waterfront as the future for Palm Cove.
“They need to adopt this vision now so that council planners can take this into account when reviewing current development applications which impact the waterfront. Lot 100 is a current example.
“It will probably take up to 10 years from now for it to happen.
“It’s the only possible outcome that will come out of the Cairns Towards 2050 Plan for Palm Cove waterfront traffic management
“One-way traffic isn’t an option because, according to council planning director Ed Johnson, the road would need to comply with current Queensland regulations for road specifications. Williams Esplanade isn’t wide enough to meet current one-way traffic specs, let alone two.” Mr Felan said the council did not have to acquire land behind the esplanade to provide the access from Amphora St. Access could be negotiated as part of development applications for Lot 100.
Mr Felan said the council needed to adopt a vision of a pedestrian esplanade – a promenade – as the future for Palm Cove.
