General News
19 February, 2025
Start line near for cycleway
A 2.1km cycleway at the southern end of Port Douglas Rd at Port Douglas is ready to go once almost $2 million is granted by the federal government.
Last week councillors endorsed the application for funding to complete the $2.6m cycleway upgrade in Port Douglas.
The project will receive almost $2m dollars in federal government funding while the remainder ($643,830) has been allocated in the council’s footpath renewal program.
The upgrade – which is earmarked for Port Douglas Road between Lakeland Avenue and the Old Port Road intersection – is shovel ready, once the funding is secured.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said it was important to improve the cycle network given the shire’s strong cycling culture.
“The shared pathways in Port Douglas, Cooya Beach and Mossman make it easy for leisure cyclists to enjoy the region safely and, in Port, cycling is the preferred option for seasonal workers to get around,” she said.
“We appreciate the federal government’s input through the Active Transport Fund and the Roads to Recovery Program and I look forward to seeing this project come to fruition.”
Cr Scomazzon told last week’s council meeting that the council’s 25 per cent share of the work was “achievable” but 50 per cent it could not afford.
She said the cycleway would benefit all residents of Port Douglas and it was a “win-win’ for all.
Cr Michael Rees (above) told the meeting the council was only up for 25 per cent of the bill, about $640,000 over three years. “I think this is great,” he said. “My understanding is councils would normally have to find half the money but we only have to find 25 per cent.
“So we’d be mad not to pursue this. This is a fantastic opportunity.”
The council aims to secure about $1.29m from the federal Active Transport Funding grant pool and about $640,000 from the Roads to Recovery Program, adding up to a total bill for the shared path of about $2.6m.
A council report said the project would upgrade about 2.1km of existing pathway along Port Douglas Road to a 3m wide shared path.
The project includes:
Demolition of the existing footpath
Protection and modification of some existing infrastructure
Construction of 3m wide shared path from Lakeland Avenue to Old Port Road
Drainage
Pedestrian and cyclist crossings/refuges
Pavement marking
Signs.
Read More: Port Douglas
