Hi all,
A brief update on the Cairns Esplanade situation.
Birds Australia North Queensland Group (BA-NQG) had a second meeting with
Cairns City Council representatives at the end of July to discuss further
the joint NHT funding application BA-NQG had proposed, which was to put a
bird interpretive centre on the Cairns Esplanade. The main purpose was to
ensure that Cairns City Council included the waders as a part of the
attraction in any development of the Esplanade. Now three design concepts,
for the Esplanade, have been released for public consultation. All three
have included various ideas to incorporate the birds and one has a Trinity
Bay interpretive centre on their plan. In view of this it was decided not to
apply for separate funding at this time, but to work with the consultants to
ensure the accepted design includes an interpretive center and doesn't
dislodge the birds from their present feeding and roosting areas. Meanwhile
the council has funding and a preliminary design to upgrade the existing
interpretive shelter on the Esplanade. They asked BA-NQG to have an input
into this process. The grand redevelopment plans for the Esplanade will
probably take many years to complete. In the mean time an upgrade of the
existing interpretive material will be of great benefit to help people
understand the ecology of Trinity Inlet.
The three design concepts have various plans including a beach and swimming
pool but do contain some concessions for the birds, one has a bird hide set
out over an existing roost site, another has three islands sitting off the
Esplanade with walkways linking them and viewing platforms strategically
located to enhance birdwatching. The third one has an environmental
interpretive centre which again looks like it is built over an existing
roost site and it also has an aviary at the southern end which apparently
will have no sides but a roof! It also calls for the cultivation of
particular tree species to attract birdlife to the aviary - work that one
out. The costing for these plans range from $22.6 to $37.5 million, as yet
we don't know where all the money is coming from. Both Birds Australia and
The Bird Observers Club of Australia have had meetings with the consultant
to express their views about these design concepts. We will continue to
monitor the situation closely and suggest ways of preserving the existing
bird habitat.
Anyone wishing more details please email us direct.
Keith & Lindsay Fisher
PO Box 2209, Cairns QLD 4870
E-mail:
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