Second chance for Hummock Hill Island resort proposal
02 July 2018
Queensland Government:
A proposed $1.2 billion tourism project on
Hummock Hill Island will undergo a new assessment following Ministerial
approval for the independent Coordinator-General to step in and become
the decision-maker on the
development application.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and
Planning Cameron Dick said he had approved the move following a request
by proponent
Eaton Place Pty Ltd for the Coordinator-General to use his
legislative step-in powers.
The move comes after the
Gladstone Regional Council rejected the
Development Application in May and an appeal by the proponent to the
Planning and
Environment Court.
“In the Planning and Environment Court, the Gladstone Regional Council
and the proponent, Eaton Place, could be arguing for three to four
years, Mr Dick said.
“That adds a lot of cost, time and uncertainty to both parties and to
the ratepayers of Gladstone.
“Using step-in powers a new decision should be concluded in a matter of
months.
The Coordinator-General has consulted with those who responded to the
public notification of the project’s
environmental impact statement,
Council and State agencies and has recommended that a step-in notice is
required to ensure timely decision making.
“I have agreed to his recommendation and the Coordinator-General will
now undertake a new and comprehensive assessment of the development
application,” Mr Dick said.
Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said he supported the Hummock Hill
proposal as it promised hundreds of jobs for locals and a significant
boost to the local economy.
“I am happy that the Coordinator General will reconsider the proposal,
which aligns well with the Southern Great Barrier Reef tourism pitch
focussing on future opportunities for
Central
Queensland,” Mr Butcher said.
The proposal is for an integrated, master-planned
resort on Hummock Hill
Island in Rodds Bay, 30 kilometres south-east of Gladstone.
Plans include resort hotels, holiday units and camping grounds for about
2800 people, and potential permanent housing for up to 1200 people, with
education and village precincts, boat ramps, beach access, an 18-hole
golf course, retail outlets and a bridge to the mainland.
If approved, the project is expected to generate an average of 190 jobs
a year on the island over the 17-year construction period and deliver
700 direct tourism and related industry jobs when fully developed.
“Tourism is so important to job creation in regional Queensland,” Mr
Dick said.
“The project has secured state and federal environmental approvals.
“It’s therefore important that the Development Application is assessed
as quickly as possible by the Coordinator General, whose decision is
final.”
--ENDS--
Source: Queensland Government - www.statements.qld.gov.au
Contact: Catherine Palmer, 0424 823 424
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