Overview
Summary
Douglas Shire Council has secured funding for a splash park in Port Douglas and is working towards delivering the project by May 2024.
Council will be doing engagement in February 2023 to gather feedback on the preferred locations and key features to inform its design. There are two locations being considered – Jalunbu Park behind the Port Douglas Surf Life Saving Club and Reynolds Park, on Davidson Street.
Council is also continuing to investigate the community’s appetite for a second public swimming pool. A survey in October 2020 found 68% of respondents supported a public swimming pool in Port Douglas. Before Council invests resources to find funding for capital works for what could likely to be a $15 to $25 million project, we are taking the opportunity to measure whether the level of support has changed.
Cost of Project
Community Engagement – Survey Opens 17 February 2023
Click here for details on future engagement opportunities
Saturday 18 Feb & Sunday 19 Feb 2023
People can learn more about the project and provide their feedback at one of the upcoming engagement events. You’ll find us by the pink flamingos:
- Come and play – Saturday 18 February, 9am-12pm at Port Douglas Community Hall, on Mowbray Street.
Come along for an ice cream and some fun family activities and games.
- Family movie night – Saturday 18 February, from 5pm at Port Douglas Community Hall, on Mowbray Street.
Bring along a picnic basket and rug for a screening of the family movie Moana. We’ll have live music and face painting from 5pm. We’ll start the movie at 6:45pm.
- Port Douglas Markets – Sunday 19 February, 8am-1.30pm
Look for our stall at the Sunday markets and come share your feedback and ideas with our team.
For those unable to attend any of the engagement activities in person, there will be an opportunity for people to provide their input via a survey from 17 February 2023.
Questionnaires will be available at Council’s offices and libraries as well as being online. Those registered for updates will receive the survey link directly once it is released.
Register For Updates - Port Douglas Aquatic Precinct
By registering, you will receive email updates directly from Douglas Shire Council's Community Liaison Officer.
Project Updates
FEBRUARY, 2023
Community engagement opportunities announced. Read more here.
NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER, 2022
Development of the community engagement activities and communication materials.
OCTOBER, 2022
Douglas Shire Council received 14 submissions to deliver the Port Douglas Aquatic Precinct Community Engagement. The contract was awarded to CRED Consulting.
SEPTEMBER, 2022
Douglas Shire Council released a Request for Quote for the Port Douglas Aquatic Precinct Community Engagement on VendorPanel.
Deadline is 30 September 2022.
MAY, 2022
Douglas Shire Council is moving forward with community engagement for a splash park in Port Douglas. The engagement will ascertain:
- The community’s preferred location for a recreational water facility from a short-list of two locations – Jalunbu Park and Reynolds Park;
- The community’s input into a custom designed splash park in Port Douglas;
- What level of support there is in the community for a public swimming pool given the expected ongoing operational costs and impact on rates, and
- If supported, what is the community’s preferred form for a pool.
DECEMBER, 2021
Seven tenders were received by the closing date of 9 November 2021.
Rather than appoint a designer, at its Council Meeting on 30 November 2021, a resolution was passed that Council:
- Consults with the community for the location of the Port Douglas Splash Park and Water Precinct.
- The final location of the precinct is decided by Council resolution.
- A business case and cost benefit analysis are conducted on the proposed 50m lap pool and an alternative lagoon style pool.
- The business case and cost benefit analysis, for both options, are brought to a council meeting to be publicly discussed and noted.
Council is in the process of implementing the resolution and in the interim, officers requested a 120-day extension from current tenderers and five of the seven have agreed, resulting in offers remaining valid until 20 April 2022.
NOVEMBER, 2021
Tenders have been invited for the preparation of a concept plan for an aquatic facility. The tender includes developing detailed designs for a splash park and closes on 16 November 2021. Reynolds Park in Port Douglas is identified as the preferred location and the successful consultant will be required to create an animated fly through for the entire aquatic facility. This will be used to go out to the community for feedback on the concept.
The aquatic facility will be a staged development. Once Council has approved the overall concept, the consultant will prepare detailed designs for the splash park component which will be Stage 1. The aim is for the splash park to be shovel ready in time to seek funding in 2022.
JUNE, 2021
Douglas Shire Council has committed to completing the following Operational Plan initiative in the 2021/22 financial year.
- Port Douglas Aquatic Precinct – Following approval of concept and detailed design progress towards funding for an aquatic precinct, that includes a splash park. Ensure community engagement. The splash park will be phase one.
Target – Completed designs, community engagement and identification of potential funding sources. Importantly, while the design will encompass the longer-term version which includes a pool, the more immediate priority is the splash park. Therefore, designs should enable a phased approach to actual construction.
DECEMBER, 2020
A detailed report about the survey, which attracted 628 responses, is available for public viewing here.
This report will be provided to consultants to guide and prepare concept plans and designs which will be put back out to community consultation for further feedback.
If we have missed anything or you would like to register to receive updates, please email gaye.scott@douglas.qld.gov.au.
NOVEMBER, 2020
DOUGLAS Shire Council has stepped up plans to build a splash park and public pool in Port Douglas, tipping $465,000 into developing concepts, designs, and a master plan at today’s 2020/21 Annual Budget Review.
A recent online survey completed by more than 600 people revealed about 87% of respondents believed the tourist town needs a splash park, while 68% supported building a public pool.
Multiple ideas such as a café, mini golf and entertainment precinct near the site were also suggested by survey respondents to form part of the brief for the options report.
Once complete, the concepts and design options will be put back out to community consultation for further feedback. Read more here.
OCTOBER, 2020
Douglas Shire Council has released a short survey to gauge how much the community wants a splash park and recreational pool in Port Douglas.
Council recently completed investigations into the possibility of restoring an old pool on Port Douglas Rd, finding the site was unsuitable as a public recreation area due to issues with car-parking and vehicle access from the main road.
The chemical-free lagoon vision, released by the previous Council months before the last local government election, will not be progressed.
Enquiries
For more information or if you have any questions, please email enquiries@douglas.qld.gov.au.
