Queensland government approves AU$600m eco-resort
by Jessica Tasman-Jones | 06 Mar 2013
The island's research centre will conduct research programmes and conservation activities
Australia’s Queensland state government has approved an AU$600m (US$617m, 472m euro, £408m) resort for Great Keppel Island, which will be one of the biggest tourism developments in the country – pending approval from the federal government.
The proposed first stage of development would include: a 250-room hotel at Fisherman’s Beach with restaurant and conference facilities; a 250-berth marina and yacht club at Putney Beach; 150 precinct apartments and staff accommodation; and a ferry terminal.
Subsequent development would include 750 eco-resort villas, a further 150 apartments, a research centre and a Greg Norman designed golf course.
A number of environmental conditions have been agreed to, including the installation of more than 24,000 solar panels to make the resort “carbon-positive”.
Other environmental initiatives include re-use of dredge materials for construction of a breakwater, 100 per cent recycling of wastewater, and a 575-hectare protection precinct (45 per cent of the island) to be rehabilitated and protected in perpetuity.
Minister for state development, infrastructure and planning Jeff Seeney said the resort would be the first major new tourism project within the Great Barrier Reef in 25 years.
“It would provide a huge boost to both the construction and tourism industries – two of Queensland’s four key economic pillars – creating hundreds of construction jobs over a 12 year construction period and more than 1000 permanent operational jobs.”
Great Keppel Island's revitalisation project manager Anthony Aiossa said: "This project has the capacity to kick-start a renaissance for Queensland tourism and provides Australians with a genuine alternative to traveling overseas for their holidays."
Australia’s Queensland state government has approved an AU$600m (US$617m, 472m euro, £408m) resort for Great Keppel Island, which will be one of the biggest tourism developments in the country – pending approval from the federal government. The proposed first stage of development would include: a 250-room hotel at Fisherman’s Beach with restaurant and conference facilities; a 250-berth marina and yacht club at Putney Beach; 150 precinct apartments and staff accommodation;
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