Path approved for Northern Beaches Leisure Trail

Construction of a 3m pedestrian and cycle path through Holloways Beach and Machans Beach will begin in 2020 following approval of the final alignment at today’s Council meeting.

The path is part of the Northern Beaches Leisure Trail that will eventually connect the Cairns CBD to Palm Cove.

On the Machans Beach side, the new pathway will start at O’Shea’s Esplanade, continue down Arnold Street, through Airport Services-owned land and across Barr Creek on a new bridge.

On the Holloways Beach side, the path will continue on a short path to an on-road section along Willow Street and Tamarind Street, onto a new concrete path on Coconut and Cassia streets to Alamanda Street, before winding through Raintree Park, and along Oleander Street towards the beach where it will meet the existing foreshore path at Hibiscus Lane.

Council received petitions against the new Barr Creek bridge and the proposed footpath in Coconut and Cassia streets.

Numerous options were considered for both components.

The Barr Creek bridge alignment has the lowest environment footprint and impact on visual amenity while addressing concerns about cost, the length of the route and safety of users.

The off-street pathway on Coconut and Cassia streets was considered the safest and most cost effective.

Construction of the path, costing $1.167 million, will begin in 2020 and be completed early in 2021. The bridge works, estimated to cost $6.124 million, will start after the wet season following approval of the Development Application.