A FIFTH birthday celebration for the Esplanade Lagoon this weekend has been postponed amid claims it had been timed to boost mayoral candidate Kevin Byrne's election chances.

Critics of Cr Byrne claimed the party was being held before the March 15 Cairns Regional Council election to increase his profile.

However, Cairns City Council says the decision to shift the party from tomorrow to March 29 – the official fifth anniversary of the Lagoon’s opening – had nothing to do with the election.

A council spokeswoman said wet weather was to blame. She said the party, which will cost $5000, was originally planned to fall before the election and Easter holidays, but this week’s downpours had forced the date change.

Former mayor Tom Pyne, who led the initial stages of the development, yesterday said he was not aware of the birthday celebrations.

He said the Esplanade was the "jewel of the city".

"When we had all the shopping centres built in the suburbs, it sucked the life out of the city so we needed to do something to get people back," Mr Pyne said.

"It think it has been a magnificent project that changed the face of Cairns."

The birthday celebrations will kick off with a breakfast barbecue at 9am, with games and entertainment throughout the day.

The day will end with a movie screened over the water at the shallow end.

The $44 million redevelopment recently won another international award, snapping up an Excellence on the Waterfront award in Boston, US. The award adds to a list of about 20 achievements.

Cr Byrne was yesterday presented with a book produced after the awards with the Cairns Lagoon featured on the front cover.

"As Mayor of Cairns, I couldn’t be more proud of what has been achieved on our waterfront, which is a recreational area that caters to everyone, is maintained beautifully and showcases this city in the very best light," Cr Byrne said.

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