It’s nearly time to splash out

l PORT DOUGLAS

THIS year is definitely flying as we now enter the second half of 2023. It was back in mid-February that I covered the story about Douglas Shire Council securing funding to deliver a splash park in Port Douglas by May, 2024

Back in late 2020, the council conducted a survey about splash parks and swimming pools. A total of 85 per cent of people were in favour of a splash park and 68 per cent of the local population were in favour of a second swimming facility in Port Douglas.

While there is currently no available funding to design and construct a swimming pool, the splash park is now a reality and the Douglas Shire Council, back in February, asked the community to choose between either Jalunbu Park behind the Port Douglas Surf Life Saving Club or Reynolds Park, on Davidson Street. The council also asked input into its design.

There was also the opportunity for people to give their opinion and level of support for the public swimming facility in Port Douglas and to decide whether it should be a 50m lap pool or free-form lagoon.

Word on the street, in February, suggested that Jalunbu Park was the current favourite splash park location, but this, at the time, was yet to be confirmed.

Well, now the results are in and these were made public at last week’s monthly ordinary council meeting.

February’s public consultation feedback indicated that 44 per cent of respondents selected Jalunbu Park as the preferred location for the future splash park, while Reynolds Park only returned 24 per cent of the local’s vote.

Furthermore, 61 per cent of participants in the survey indicated that they want a free-form lagoon instead of a

50m pool. Interestingly, 46 per cent of locals want the splash park and lagoon to be located next to each other.

As a result of all of this, a motion was presented at last week’s council meeting ‘to note the public confirming Jalunbu Park as the preferred location for a splash park’. This was carried 4-1.

Back around the time of the initial survey, an information brochure was released on the council’s website which indicated the splash park would have a cost of around $1.2 million and an annual operating cost of $110,000.

Another interesting fact, which leaves me a little confused, is that the brochure also said entry to any future splash park in Port Douglas would be free. It appears now that this may or may not be the case and is yet to be decided.

Hopefully, when all is said and done, this project will be a major plus for the Douglas Shire, considering also that a couple of projects have recently been given the elbow for one reason or another.

I’m off to iron my swimmers, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.

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