Esplanade Dining Precinct revamp is on budget

Published: 23 September 2020. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

Council is expected to deliver its revamped and rejuvenated Esplanade Dining Precinct on budget.

A report tabled at Council today stated that detailed design has now reached 60 per cent completion, with a cost estimate of $28 million to complete the entire project, including the Dining Precinct stages and Shields St between Abbott St and the Esplanade.

In May, Council endorsed fast-tracking the project, with detailed design and renewal of the footpath starting in July, while the detailed design for the complete project was developed.

In order to facilitate an accelerated program, Council has adopted a three-staged delivery of the Esplanade works.

Stage one, which involved construction of the 3.4-metre footpath, has now been completed.

Work is progressing concurrently on stages two and three – the second stage involves the laying of outdoor dining pavement and installation of awnings (to be completed April 2021), while state 3 includes construction of the road and landscaping, with an expected finished of April 2021.

The Shields St works are also expected to be completed April 2021.

Council also endorsed the establishment of the Esplanade Dining Precinct Advisory Committee, which includes the Mayor, Deputy Mayor Terry James, Division 5 Councillor Amy Eden and CEO John Andrejic, to assist the project meeting the new timeframes.

Two 3D fly-throughs of the Esplanade Dining Precinct can be viewed on Council website at   https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/council/major-projects/esplanade-dining-precinct