$3 billion Leisure Resort for North Queensland

Plans for a $3 billion themed entertainment resort near Cairns have been unveiled this week.

Proposed by the Tropical Paradise Resort Consortium for a 300-hectare site at Edmonton, 18 kilometres south of Cairns, the development would include three distinct precincts.

Precinct one would include a US-branded theme park, a film studio and backlot, along with an entertainment centre, themed hotel, retail space and restaurants;

Precinct two would feature a waterpark, extreme sports complex, golf driving and putting range, a leisure lake, themed hotel, short stay living village, themed retail and a community centre;

Precinct three would include a living aquarium, multiplex cinema complex, themed restaurants, shops and clubs, a themed hotel and spa complex, a lake and themed entertainment and shopping pier area, a further village area and a commercial themed estate.

The Tropical Paradise Resort Consortium includes Paul Davies Film & Television Enterprises, Housing Industry Promotions and Tom Blair.

In an initial advice statement submitted by Tropical Resort Developments, the consortium said "Far North Queensland is recognised for the significance of its natural environment and many successful tourism ventures utilise, promote and protect the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics Rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef that they operate in.

"Although the area proposed for this project is currently used for sugar cane growing, the Tropical Paradise Precinct Development will focus on re-establishing the local flora and fauna, protecting and enhancing the natural environment whilst providing a range of world-class tourist and community facilities for locals and visitors which complement the Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Areas without impacting on them directly."

To proceed, the proposal will not be a matter for the Cairns Regional Council for approval, it having been declared a 'significant project' by the Queensland Government that will require an environmental impact statement by the State.
If the development gets the go ahead, Project Manager Allan Carlsson, says building could start by 2012.

"We have been working on this for about four years, quietly behind the scenes and it is only now the Government has declared it a significant project for Queensland.

"Our vision is to provide something in Cairns that will allow visitors from overseas, visitors from interstate and around Australia to come back time and time again."

The development would be completed in phases over 10 to 15 years, depending on market conditions.