THE Port Douglas waterfront master plan, which includes a swimming lagoon as its centrepiece, could be fast-tracked using Federal Government stimulus money.

That’s the aim of the town’s divisional councillor Julia Leu after the Cairns Regional Council this week approved the plan.

The plan, which involved the council, the State Government, planning experts and community and business representatives, is a guide to the transformation of the area in front of Dickson Inlet.

Port Douglas Waterfront Master Plan

The process has taken four years and Cr Leu said there had been extensive community consultation to ensure all involved were happy with the result.

She said she was anxious to start implementing the plan.

Immediate steps include enhancing Rex Smeal Park, the removal of unwanted and unnecessary buildings along the waterfront and the start of the swimming lagoon’s feasibility study and its construction.

Cr Leu said she would urge Mayor Val Schier and other business leaders involved in ministerial talks in Canberra this week to try to secure government funding to start on physical aspects of the plan.

"Now the plan is adopted I will certainly take advantage of any government funding," she said.

"Any sale of State Government leases on land along the waterfront should be put back into the area."

Cr Leu said the council could not afford to fund all the recommendations in the plan and had yet to estimate the overall cost.

But, she said, the State and Federal governments helped pay for the Esplanade Lagoon in Cairns and should do the same at Port Douglas.

"The plan will be fully realised but it will take quite some time," Cr Leu said.

Cr Schier said the completion of all the projects associated with the plan was a long-term goal for the council.

"The plan is flexible in order to deliver a final project that may vary over time in response to changing economic and environmental factors," she said.

Port Douglas tourism leader Doug Ryan said he was pleased the plan had been given the green light.

"Obviously we have to keep it moving so it just doesn’t get filed," he said.

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