Daintree Gateway master plan
In recognition of the outstanding natural assets of the Daintree National Park and Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Cairns Regional Council has developed a master plan to deliver a sustainable, iconic and world-class visitor experience at its Gateway.
A master plan for the Daintree Gateway
The Daintree Gateway Master Plan was embarked on as a means of addressing a number of outstanding opportunities and issues that, when resolved will provide an improved visitor experience at the entry to the Daintree lowland rainforest in the Daintree National Park and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area north of the Daintree River.
The Daintree Gateway Master Plan evolved through a planning process founded on the engagement of the community along with business and tourism representatives to provide input and influence its outcomes. Through the planning process stakeholders along with Council developed a vision for the Gateway:
The Gateway is an enticing landmark that welcomes visitors to the magical wilderness and cultural landscape of the Daintree River and the world’s oldest rainforest.
The Gateway enhances the prosperity of the Daintree area by inspiring visitors to take more time to get to know the values and stories of this outstanding natural environment, its traditional owners and the resident communities.
The Daintree Gateway contains four precincts where works are to occur:
• Intersection of Mossman-Daintree Road and Cape Tribulation Road (turn-off to the ferry);
• Western Precinct (where river tour operators and boat ramps is located);
• Ferry South Bank (where queuing for ferry entry and the ferry exit is located);
• Ferry North Bank (where entry to the Daintree rainforest area commences).
In these locations, the focus of improvements relate to landscaping treatments and way finding signage. There are also specific improvements planned in each of the Precincts to create the sense of arrival and enhance the experience of entering the Daintree rainforest through the Gateway. More about these works can be read in the Master Plan itself which can be found in the “Related Documents” section to the right.
Daintree Village
While the Daintree Village sits beyond the scope of works within the Daintree Gateway Master Plan, Cairns Regional Council is exploring opportunities to continue work with the various organisations and businesses within the Daintree Village to ensure sustainable enterprise and improvements are maintained, developed and enhanced.
Other Outcomes
Through the master planning process a number of economic, environmental, social, cultural and legislative frameworks were explored. These are detailed within the Issues and Opportunities Report, and the Daintree Gateway Master Plan Vision and Context Paper. A number of options for various precincts were explored with stakeholders. These are outlined within the Daintree Gateway Master Plan Options Report. These reports are contained in a separate page by following the “Further Information” link to the right.
Implementing the Daintree Gateway Master Plan
The achievement of the vision for the Gateway is outlined in the conceptual images and diagrams throughout the Master Plan. Council’s next role is to take the concepts and develop detailed plans for construction, landscaping and infrastructure elements, including monetary frameworks for establishing a program of works over a five to ten year period. It is envisaged that the implementation of the master plan will be incremental and in line with budgetary capacities to ensure sustainable delivery of the program.
Further information
If you have an enquiry about the project or would like to provide comments please contact Council’s Planning Strategies branch on 4044 3044 or 4099 9444.