Development of Hummock Hill Island approved after the intervention of the Queensland Government

Update

November 05, 2018 20:13:34

A $ 1 billion development project on a remote and largely unspoiled island in Queensland has been given the go-ahead, against the will of the local council, after the Queensland government took the rare step to intervene in the process.

A largely unknown Australian developer has been lobbying for the $ 1.2 billion development on Hummock Hill Island since 2005.

Eaton Place wishes to build up to 2,500 residential units – including 770 permanent residences – on the central island of Queensland.

The project is not fully funded and the Gladstone Regional Council rejected it this year for a number of reasons, not least because it was too bulky and unnecessary.

But today, the state government has overruled this decision, which means that development can continue.

The State Minister for Development and Planning, Cameron Dick, said it was the first time the state had exercised its so-called "summoning" powers through the intermediary of the government. of the General Coordinator for four years.

"It's something that does not happen very often," Dick said.

"But if it's an outstanding project and an important project of interest to the regional Queensland or the state, we will exercise those powers."

Mr. Dick said that the state had worked with the Gladstone Council on its concerns about the project.

But Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett said the government had ignored their most pressing concerns about what would happen if the project failed.

Councilor Burnett said he feared that people would buy houses on the island and that council would then be forced to pay for their basic services and infrastructure.

"This is not an ecological resort – it's basically a residential subdivision in a beautiful part of the world but in the middle of nowhere.

"No water, no sewers, no roads and no bridges, what does it do to our community?" Is a bit of concern.

"We were all in favor of a tourist development for an eco-complex but we were worried about the fact that taxpayers are paying for it."

Mr Dick said the government had provided in the approvals that Eaton Place had to pay for services on the island for 17 years.

He added that the developer will have to take the first step before 2020.

But first, the company will have to complete its final design and present it to investors in order to obtain the necessary financing for its construction.

Throughout the coast, several island resort proposals have been left undeveloped, with developer Tower Holdings struggling to secure funds to build a mega holiday complex on Great Keppel Island for 10 years.

The director of Eaton Place, Peter Scarf, said he was confident that the company would manage to do everything in two years.

"We think it is feasible, we would not have agreed and we would not proceed if we did not think we could do it within that time frame," he said.

"We have a number of financiers and people involved, but really for this initial phase, we look forward to continuing straight."

Dick said the project could transform the central Queensland region.

"We are entering what we could call a golden age for tourism in Queensland," he said.

"We think it will be a real bargain."

He added that the mbadive development would also boost the local economy, with 190 construction jobs and 700 jobs in progress when development is operational.

The Gladstone region is struggling with an economic slowdown after the end of its LNG boom. The real estate market is depressed and many houses are half empty.

Local reactions to development have been mixed.

Store owner General Allison Randall said the business had been slow this year and she would welcome additional workers and tourism that the development would bring to the region.

However, Ms. Randall said that after hearing about the proposal for 15 years, she was not holding her breath.

"There are a lot of skeptics who think this will not happen in our lifetime, so I guess we will wait and see," she said.

Topics:

business-economics-and-finance

regional development,

community and society,

tourism,

building and construction,

local government,

parliament,

State Parliament

industry,

regional,

Government and politics,

activism and lobbying,

Gladstone 4680,

Tannum-sands-4680,

qld,

Australia,

rockhampton-4700

Brisbane-4000

First posted

November 05, 2018 16:57:14